General Officer Biography

MAJOR GENERAL HUNTINGTON B. DOWNER, JR.

 

Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Louisiana National Guard

Major General Huntington "Hunt" B. Downer, Jr. assumed duties as the Assistant Adjutant General on September 1, 2001. He serves as the principal assistant to the Adjutant General for all Army National Guard issues. He is also responsible for assisting the Adjutant General in all matters pertaining to the supervision and management of the Louisiana Department of Military Affairs, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and the State Partnership Program. Additionally at the request of the Governor, he had been detailed by The Adjutant General, Major General Bennett C. Landreneau, as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the State of Louisiana, a cabinet level position. He has also been tasked to assist the Governor's office as the Legislative Affairs Liaison.

The General began his military career as an enlisted soldier, United States Army Reserve, in 1968 and subsequently received a direct appointment to Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in 1971. He later joined the Louisiana Army National Guard and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General Corps. During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, General Downer was activated with the 256th Infantry Brigade and assigned to the Staff Judge Advocate's Office, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Polk, Louisiana. During the Southwest Asia Cease Fire Campaign, he participated with the 377th Theater Area Command, United States Army Reserves in an ODT to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Prior to his current assignment, General Downer served as Special Assistant to the Adjutant General responsible for monitoring civil-military relations at the federal, state, and local government levels.


EDUCATION:

1968 Nicholls State College - Bachelor of Science Degree - Agriculture
1972 Loyola University - Juris Doctorate Degree - Law
1999 U.S. Army War College

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Oct 71 - Jun 74, Platoon Leader, Company D, 245th Engineer Battalion, 420th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Reserve
2. Jul 74 - Sep 77, United States Army Reserve Control Group (Standby)
3. Sep 77 - Apr 84, Break in Service (Honorable Discharge)
4. Apr 84 - Dec 89, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Louisiana Army National Guard, Lafayette, Louisiana
5. Dec 89 - Nov 90, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters State Area Command, Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
6. Nov 90 - May 91, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Fort Polk, Louisiana (Active Duty/Desert Storm)
7. May 91 - Aug 91, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Louisiana Army National Guard, Lafayette, Louisiana
8. Sep 91 - Feb 93, Chief Administrative/Contract Law, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Louisiana Army National Guard, Lafayette, Louisiana
9. Mar 93 - Aug 95, Judge Advocate, 204th Area Support Group, Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
10. Sep 95 - Feb 97, Staff Judge Advocate, 204th Area Support Group, Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
11. Feb 97 - Sep 97, Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters State Area Command, Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
12. Oct 97 - Aug 01, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate/Military Judge (Special Assistant to The Adjutant General), Headquarters State Area Command, Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
13. Sep 01 - Sep 03, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters State Area Command, Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
14. Sep 03 - Nov 06, Assistant Adjutant General (Army), Joint Force Headquarters-Louisiana, Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
15. Nov 06 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General (Army), Louisiana Army National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star) (Cease Fire Campaign)
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with M Device and Bronze Hour Glass)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Air Assault Badge

OTHER MILITARY RELATED ACHIEVEMENTS:

U.S. Department of Selective Service, Distinguished Service Award
U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award
Department of the Navy, Superior Public Service Award
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism Award
National Guard Association of the United States, Charles Dick Medal of Merit
Louisiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, Distinguished Service Medal

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

General Downer served 28 years, seven terms, in the Louisiana House of Representatives (1978 - 2004). He served as Speaker Pro Tempore' (1988-1992) and Speaker of the House (1996-2000). General Downer was also “of counsel” with the law firm of Waitz & Downer in Houma, Louisiana until December 2003.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

Legislator of the Year, six awards
Public Official of the Year Award, Governing Magazine, 1997
Louisiana Political Hall of Fame, 2007

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

2LT USAR 22 Oct 71
1LT ARNG 30 Mar 84
CPT ARNG 01 Mar 85
MAJ ARNG 01 Mar 89
LTC ARNG 01 Mar 93
COL ARNG 26 Sep 97
BG ARNG 01 Oct 02
MG ARNG 12 Dec 06

 

 

(Current as of February 2007)

 

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.

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