MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL W. DAVIDSON

Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
for National Guard Matters

Major General Michael W. Davidson is Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. In this position, he serves as principle adviser on National Guard matters to the Chairman and the Joint Chiefs of Staff; acts as the Chairman's personal liaison with service National Guard component; and participates when National Guard issues are brought before defense forums, such as the Joint Review Board.

The general's active military service began in 1969. He was commissioned as an infantry officer following Officer Candidate School. He qualified for and served with the Army Special Forces before assignment to Vietnam, where he served with the Airborne Ranger Infantry Company of the First Air Cavalry Division. He left active duty in 1971 and has served with reserve and active duty Special Forces units since that time.

EDUCATION:

1969 Bachelor of Arts degree in history, University of Louisville
1974 Master of Science degree in Community Development, University of Louisville
1975 Juris Doctorate ( Law ), University of Louisville
1985 Doctor of Philosophy degree in Interdisciplinary, with Dissertation on National Policymaking, University of Louisville

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Jun 70 - Sep 70 , Commanding Officer, Company D, 7^th Special Forces Group, 1^st Special Forces
2. Sep 70 - Dec 70, Student, Institute for Military Assistance
3. Dec 70 - May 71, S1, Company D, 7^th Special Forces Group (Airborne),  1^st Special Forces
4. May 71 - Dec 71, Executive Officer, Company H (Ranger), 3^rd Brigade (Separate), 1^st Cavalry (Airmobile)
5. Dec 71 - May 72, United States Army Reserve Control Group (Annual Training)
6. May 72 - Nov 75 , Special Agent, later Assistant Section Chief, later Assistant CI Chief,  389^th Military Intelligence Detachment, 11^th Special Forces Group
7. Nov 75 - Nov 75, United States Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement)
8. Nov 75 - May 81, Assistant CI Chief, later Operations Officer later Detachment Commander, 389^th Military Intelligence Detachment
9. May 81 - Jun 85, United States Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement)
10. Jun 85 - Jun 85, Assistant S3, 5^th Special Forces Group
11. Jun 85 - Jan 86, United States Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement) with duty as Assistant Professor of Military Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
12. Jan 86 - Aug 86, Assistant Group S3, 5^th Special Forces Group
13. Aug 86 - Aug 87, United States Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement) with duty as Assistant Professor of Military Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
14. Aug 87 - Aug 87, Ground Operations Officer, Headquarters, Special Operation Command, Central Command
15. Aug 87 - Dec 87, United States Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement)
16. Dec 87 - Sep 91, The Adjutant General, Headquarters State Area Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, Frankfort, Kentucky
17. Sep 91 - Oct 91. Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters State Area Command, Kentucky Army National Guard, Frankfort, Kentucky
18. Oct 91 - Oct 93, Temporary Additional Position, Headquarters, State Area Command with duty as Deputy Commanding General (RC), United States Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
19. Oct 93 - May 95, Deputy CINC, (Mobilization and Reserve Affairs), United States Special Operations Command, McDill, Air Force Base, Florida
20. May 95 - Jul 98, Mobilization Assistant to Director, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
21. Jul 98 - Present, Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters, Washington, D.C.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 oak leaf cluster and "V" device)
Army Achievement Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 2 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze service star
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 campaign stars
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 silver Hourglass Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze star
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Master Parachutist Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Valorous Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

Second Lieutenant, 19 May 1970, USAR
First Lieutenant, 19 June 1971, AUS
First Lieutenant, 26 December 1971, USAR
Captain, 15 June 1974, USAR
Major, 15 September 1978, USAR
Major, 8 December 1987, ARNG
Lieutenant Colonel, 13 December 1987, ARNG
Colonel, 1 June 1989, ARNG
Brigadier General (Line), 7 December 1990, ARNG
Major General (Line), 25 October 1993, ARNG