MAJOR GENERAL DARREN G. OWENS

Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard

Major General Darren G. Owens is Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard.

General Owens began his military service in 1973 after graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. He was commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery Officer and served on active duty as an Air Defense Missile Platoon Leader from October 1973 until October 1976. General Owens served as the Assistant Division Commander for Support from April 2004 through May 2005 and Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver from May 2005 through July 2005, 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard, Austin, Texas. From July 2005 to January 2007, he served as the Commanding General, 36th Infantry Division Forward, Multi-National Brigade (East) and Task Force Falcon, Kosovo Force 7, Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo - Serbia-Montenegro. In January 2007 General Owens returned to his duties as Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver, 36th Infantry Division and in July 2007 assumed duties as a Special Assistant to the Director of the Army National Guard. His most recent assignment was Director of Logistics, J-4, National Guard Bureau.

EDUCATION:

1973 Texas A&M University, Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Economics, College Station, Texas
2001 United States Army War College, by Seminar
2001 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. October 1973 - October 1976, Platoon Leader, Air Defense Missile, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery, 32nd Army Air Defense Command, Ansbach, Federal Republic of Germany
2. October 1976 - July 1977, United States Army Reserve Control Group
3. July 1977 - September 1978, Anti-armor Platoon Leader, Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry (Mechanized), 49th Armored Division, Tulia, Texas
4. September 1978 - June 1979, Executive Officer, Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 49th Armored Division, Amarillo, Texas
5. June 1979 - October 1982, Commander, Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry (Mechanized), 49th Armored Division, Amarillo, Texas
6. October 1982 - July 1984, Assistant S-4 (Logistics), Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Fort Worth, Texas
7. July 1984 - October 1984, S4 (Logistics), Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor, 49th Armored Division, Fort Worth, Texas
8. October 1984 - October 1986, Assistant S-3 (Infantry), Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Fort Worth, Texas
9. October 1986 - October 1989, S-3 (Operations), Headquarters (-), 5th Battalion, 112th Armor, 49th Armored Division, Marshall, Texas
10. October 1989 - April 1991, Executive Officer, 8th Battalion, 112th Armor, 50th Armored Division, Dallas, Texas
11. April 1991 - September 1992, S-3 (Operations), Headquarters, 36th Brigade, 50th Armored Division, Houston, Texas
12. September 1992 - August 1993, S-3 (Operations), Headquarters, 36th Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Houston, Texas
13. August 1993 - August 1996, Commander, Headquarters, 5th Battalion, 112th Armor, 49th Armored Division, Marshall, Texas
14. August 1996 - August 1997, Executive Officer, Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Fort Worth, Texas
15. August 1997 - April 1999, Executive Officer, Headquarters, 36th Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Houston, Texas
16. April 1999 - June 2002, Commander, Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 49th Armored Division, Dallas, Texas
17. June 2002 - April 2004, Assistant Division Commander - Support, Headquarters, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas
18. April 2004 - May 2005, Assistant Division Commander - Support, Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, Austin, Texas
19. May 2005 - July 2005, Assistant Division Commander - Maneuver, Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, Austin, Texas
20. July 2005 - January 2007, Commanding General, Task Force Falcon, Kosovo Force 7, Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division Forward, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
21. January 2007 - July 2007, Assistant Division Commander - Maneuver, Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, Austin, Texas
22. July 2007 - May 2008, Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia
23. May 2008 - May 2010, Director of Logistics, J-4, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
24. May 2010 - Present, Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

The Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Kosovo Campaign Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Non-Article 5 Medal
Expert Infantry Badge
Army Superior Unit Award

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

General Owens is employed by the United States Department of Agriculture/Farm Service Agency as a Supervisory Agricultural Program Specialist

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

Eagle Scout
Vigil Member Order of the Arrow
Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry, Department of Agriculture Economics, Texas A&M University
Member, Eastside Baptist Church
served as youth leader and Sunday School Teacher
Member, Bryan/College Station Camp, Gideon's International (also served as a camp officer)
Member, American Legion Post 159
Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Member, Texas Association of State and County Office Employees
Member, National Association of District Directors
Member, National Guard Association of Texas (former member, Board of Directors)
Member, National Guard Association of the United States
Member, United States Armor Association (President Lone Star Chapter, 1996-2000)
Member, United States Infantry Association (Lone Star Chapter)
Member, Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University (served as Class Agent on the Council of the Association of Former Students 1990-1995)
Former Member Board of Directors, Park Meadow Homeowners Association
Instructor on the National Management Training Team for the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency
Member of the National Farm Program Steering Committee, United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency
Member of the National Commodity Loan and Price Support Programs Task Force

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

Second Lieutenant USAR 17 August 1973
First Lieutenant ARNG 22 July 1977
Captain ARNG 24 October 1979
Major ARNG 12 January 1987
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 24 September 1993
Colonel ARNG 22 April 1999
Brigadier General ARNG 21 August 2003
Major General ARNG 16 May 2008

(Current as of November 2010)