MAJOR GENERAL M. WAYNE PIERSON

Commanding General - 35th Infantry Division, Kansas National Guard

Major General M. Wayne Pierson was assigned as the Commanding General, 35th Infantry Division, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in November 2006. As Division Commanding General, he commands units in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois and has training oversight on Brigades throughout Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Arkansas, Nebraska and South Carolina.

General Pierson began his military career as an enlisted signalman. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Signal Corps on 10 September 1974 by the Missouri National Guard Officer Candidate School. He has held command leadership positions at platoon, company, battalion, and brigade level and served as the Assistant Division Commander (Support), 35th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City, Missouri.

EDUCATION:

1972, Northwest Missouri State University, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, Maryville, Missouri
2000 U.S. Army War College, Master of Strategic Studies, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. August 1974 - July 1975, Section Leader (Message Center Section), 435th Signal Company, Missouri Army National Guard, St. Joseph, Missouri
2. July 1975 - August 1976, Section Leader, Mobile Radio Section, 435th Signal Company, Missouri Army National Guard, St. Joseph, Missouri
3. September 1976 - August 1980, Platoon Leader, Telephone Operations Platoon, 435th Signal Company, Missouri Army National Guard, St Joseph, Missouri
4. August 1980 - July 1981, Cable Communications Officer, Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, 135th Signal Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, St Joseph, Missouri
5. July 1981 - December 1983, Company Commander, Company A, 937th Signal Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, St Joseph, Missouri
6. January 1984 - September 1984, Telephone Digital Communications Officer, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 135th Signal Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, St Joseph, Missouri
7. October 1984 - July 1985, Communications Electronic Systems Control Officer, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 135th Signal Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, St Joseph, Missouri
8. August 1985 - October 1987, Communications Electronic Staff Officer, 135th Field Artillery Brigade, Missouri Army National Guard, Sedalia, Missouri
9. November 1987 - August 1989, S2/S3 Officer, 135th Signal Battalion, Missouri
10. August 1989 - November 1992, Assistant Division Communications Electronic Officer, 135th Signal Battalion, St Joseph, Missouri
11. November 1992 - October 1995, Commander, 135th Signal Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, St Joseph, Missouri
12. November 1995 - June 1998, Executive Officer, 35th Support Command, 35th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Missouri Army National Guard, Lexington, Missouri
13. July 1998 - May 1999, Director of Maintenance, Headquarters, State Area Command (70 Troop Command), Missouri Army National Guard, Jefferson City, Missouri
14. June 1999 - May 2001, Commander, 35th Support Command, 35th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Missouri Army National Guard, Lexington, Missouri
15. May 2001 - February 2005, Assistant Division Commander - Support, 35th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Missouri Army National Guard, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
16. February 2005 - November 2006 Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Missouri Army National Guard, Jefferson City, Missouri
17. November 2006 - Present, Commanding General, 35th Infantry Division, Kansas Army National Guard, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Hourglass)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant ARNG 10 August 1974
First Lieutenant ARNG 9 August 1977
Captain ARNG 26 August 1980
Major ARNG 30 September 1985
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 28 December 1992
Colonel ARNG 23 March 1999
Brigadier General ARNG 1 December 2001
Major General ARNG 15 November 2006

(Current as of November 2007)