BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM A. BANKHEAD

Commander, Land Component Command, Idaho National Guard

Brigadier General William A. Bankhead is the Commander, Land Component, Idaho National Guard. He is responsible for the training and readiness of a Joint Task Force, ensuring it is capable of responding to any and all natural disasters, civil disturbances, terrorist threats and state or federally declared emergencies.

General Bankhead, an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Military Graduate, received a Regular Army Commission as a second lieutenant on 8 December 1978. He began his career as a Signal Corps staff officer and platoon leader in 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 1st Armored Division, West Germany. General Bankhead's final assignment on active duty was an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Boise State University, Boise, Idaho.

General Bankhead joined the Idaho Army National Guard in January 1993 and has held various staff and command positions in the Installation Support Unit and the Regional Training Institute. In September 1992, he was selected as the Deputy Brigade Commander of the 116th (Heavy) Calvary Brigade (Separate). General Bankhead voluntarily deployed to Afghanistan from 2006 through 2007 where he established and ran the first Afghan War College. Upon returning from deployment he was assigned in his current position as Commander, Land Component Command.

EDUCATION:

1978 Columbus State University, Bachelor of Arts, History, Columbus, Georgia
2003 United States Army War College, by correspondence
2003 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. December 1978 - March 1979, Student, Signal Corps Officer Basic Course, Fort Gordon, Georgia
2. April 1979 - December 1980, Battalion Communications Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 1st Armored Division, Illesheim, Germany
3. January 1981 - June 1982, Platoon Leader, Company A, 141st Signal Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Ansbach, Germany
4. July 1982 - February 1983, Student, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Fort Knox, Kentucky
5. March 1983 - April 1983, Student, Junior Officer Maintenance Course, Fort Knox, Kentucky
6. May 1983 - March 1984, Adjutant, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas
7. April 1984 - August 1984, Assistant S-3 (Operations), 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas
8. September 1984 - May 1986, Commander, Company E, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas
9. June 1986 - October 1986, Commander, Company E, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, 2nd Armored Division (Forward), Garlstadt, Germany
10. November 1986 - March 1988 , Commander, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 66th Armor, 2nd Armored Division (Forward), Garlstadt, Germany
11. April 1988 - June 1988, S-3 Air (Operations), 2nd Battalion, 66th Armor, 2nd Armored Division (Forward), Garlstadt, Germany
12. July 1988 - September 1988, Student, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
13. October 1988 - June 1989, Assistant G-1 (Personnel), 2nd Armored Division (Forward), Garlstadt, Germany
14. July 1989 - January 1993, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho
15. February 1993 - February 1995, Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion 116th Armor, 116th (Heavy) Calvary Brigade (Separate) Twin Falls, Idaho
16. March 1995 - November 1997, Range Officer, Installation Support Unit, Boise, Idaho
17. December 1997 - December 1998, Chief, Range Division, Installation Support Unit, Boise, Idaho
18. January 1999 - July 1999, Director of Plans, Training, and Mobilization, Installation Support Unit, Boise, Idaho
19. August 1999 - November 2001, Commander, 3rd Battalion, 204th General Studies Battalion, 204th Regional Training Institute, Boise, Idaho
20. December 2001 - May 2002, Commander, 204th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Boise, Idaho
21. June 2002 - August 2002, Deputy Commander, State Area Command, Boise, Idaho
22. September 2002 - July 2003, Deputy Commander, 116th (Heavy) Calvary Brigade (Separate), Boise, Idaho
23. August 2003 - February 2005, Deputy Commander, State Area Command, Boise, Idaho
24. March 2005 - February 2006, Strategic Planner, Idaho Joint Force Headquarters, Boise, Idaho
25. March 2006 - July 2006, Garrison Commander, Training Assistance Group, 41st Brigade Combat Team, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V, Kabul, Afghanistan
26. August 2006 - June 2007, Assistant Director, Senior Command and Staff Course (Afghan War College), Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 41st Brigade Combat Team, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V, Kabul, Afghanistan
27. July 2007 - Present, Commander, Land Component Command, Idaho Joint Force Headquarters, Boise, Idaho

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with M Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 3)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

Compliance Assistant Specialist for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Boise, Idaho

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:

Brigadier General Bankhead is a member of the National Guard Association of the United States, the Military Officers Association of America, the Association of the United States Army and the Idaho Officer's Association.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant USA 8 December 1978
First Lieutenant USA 15 September 1981
Captain USA 1 September 1982
Major USA 1 December 1990
Major ARNG 1 February 1993
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 19 September 1996
Colonel ARNG 26 December 2001
Brigadier General ARNG 1 April 2008

(Current as of March 2012)