BRIGADIER GENERAL GARY E. HUFFMAN

Deputy Senior Military Representative/Chief, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Advisory Team, Sarajevo

Brigadier General Gary E. Huffman was the Deputy Senior Military Representative/Chief, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Advisory Team, Sarajevo. Assigned on 1 June 2011, General Huffman was ordered to active duty and arrived in theater 10 June 2011 and conducted Transfer of Authority on 15 June 2011. He was responsible for leading a joint international military and civilian staff that conducted strategic level defense and security sector reform. Primary responsibilities of his position included; Commander of Camp Butmir, Senior United States Officer/Military Representative in the Balkans Area for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, daily interaction with the Ministry of Defense and Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia & Herzegovina, support to European Union Forces Operation ALTHEA, and coordination with multiple international organizations.

General Huffman received his commission through officer candidate school in May 1984. He has served in various command and staff positions in units at battery, battalion, brigade and joint force headquarters. General Huffman served on active duty in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and commanded the 2nd Battalion, 2-114th Field Artillery during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 - 2005. Prior to receiving his commission, he served as an enlisted Soldier with the United States Army Reserve and Mississippi Army National Guard.

EDUCATION:

1973 Mississippi State University, Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Economics Starkville, Mississippi.
2003 Touro University International, Masters of Business Administration, by correspondence
2008 United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, by correspondence
2008 United States Army War College, Master of Science Degree, Strategic Studies, by correspondence
2008 Department of Defense, Defense Support to Civil Authorities Course, San Antonio, Texas
2011 Generals, Flag Officers, and Ambassadors Course, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defense College, Rome, Italy

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1984 - October 1985, Fire Support Team Chief, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 2-114th Field Artillery, Starkville, Mississippi
2. October 1985 - October 1987, Fire Direction Officer, Battery A, 2-114th Field Artillery, Columbus, Mississippi
3. October 1987 - December 1988, Platoon Leader, Battery A, 2-114th Field Artillery, Columbus, Mississippi
4. December 1988 - July 1990, Commander, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 2-114th Field Artillery, Starkville, Mississippi
5. July 1990 - July 1992, Fire Support Officer, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 2-114th Field Artillery, Starkville, Mississippi
6. July 1992 - August 1993, S4, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 2-114th Field Artillery, Starkville, Mississippi
7. August 1993 - August 1995, S2, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 2-114th Field Artillery, Starkville, Mississippi
8. August 1995 - February 1996, Fire Support Officer, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 155th Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
9. February 1996 - September 1996, Fire Support Officer, 1st Cavalry Division Detachment, Tupelo, Mississippi
10. September 1996 - October 1999, Fire Support Officer, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 155th Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
11. October 1999 - March 2002, S3 AIR, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 155th Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
12. March 2002 - February 2003, S3, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 155th Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
13. February 2003 - May 2006, Commander, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 2-114th Field Artillery, Starkville, Mississippi
14. May 2006 - February 2007, Chief of Staff, 66th Troop Command, Jackson, Mississippi
15. February 2007 - August 2007, Branch Chief of Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard, Jackson, Mississippi
16. August 2007 - January 2009, Deputy Commander, 66th Troop Command, Jackson, Mississippi
17. January 2009 - May 2010, Commander (Rear Operations), 155th Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
18. May 2010 - June 2011, Deputy Commander, 155th Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
19. July 2011 - September 2012, Deputy Senior Military Representative/Chief, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Advisory Team, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 2)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal
Combat Action Badge
Mississippi Magnolia Cross (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Mississippi Magnolia Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Mississippi War Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)
Mississippi Emergency Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Mississippi Service School Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Mississippi Longevity Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

Brigadier General Huffman began service with the United State Postal Service in 1973 and advanced to serve as the Postmaster in three different cities. He became a Federal Military Technician in 1999 and worked full-time for the Mississippi Army National Guard until his retirement in May 2011.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Mississippi
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Mississippi State University Alumni Association

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 26 May 1984
First Lieutenant 25 May 1987
Captain 15 June 1989
Major 5 April 1996
Lieutenant Colonel 26 April 2002
Colonel 9 December 2006
Brigadier General 1 June 2011

(Current as of January 2013)