Brigadier General Donald W. Armington is the commander of the 132nd Fighter Wing, Des Moines, Iowa. All three units of the Wing he has command responsibility for, the 132nd FW at Des Moines. the 185th Fighter Group, at Sioux City, Iowa, and the 114th FG at Sioux Falls, S.D., are equipped with the F-16C.
He graduated from East High School. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in fire protection and safety engineering. He received a master of business administration degree, in 1975, from Auburn University. General Armington completed the Air Command and Staff College, in residence, 1975; and the National Security Management Course, by correspondence, 1984. In 1988, he was appointed a fellow of Harvard University, and completed the National Security Fellowship at the J.F. Kennedy School of Government, in June 1989.
General Armington began his military career when he was commissioned in the Iowa ANG in January 1966. He reported to Mather Air Force Base for undergraduate navigator training in February 1966. He was designated a distinguished graduate, and awarded the aeronautical rating of navigator, in November 1966. He served with the 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, as a radar intercept officer, until entering undergraduate pilot training in May 1969. He was designated a distinguished graduate, and awarded the aeronautical rating of pilot, in May 1970. In the 132nd TFW, General Armington served as a combat-ready pilot, maintenance flight test officer, chief of command and control, squadron operations officer, and chief of standardization and evaluation. He served as the executive support staff officer to the adjutant general of Iowa from January 1982 to October 1983. General Armington was appointed deputy commander for operations in October 1983, and continued in that position until March 1, 1990, when he assumed his current position.
General Armington is a command pilot, with over 3,700 flying hours. He has flown the F-89J, F-84F. F-100C/D, and currently has more than 2,300 hours in the A-7D aircraft. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass device, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, and the Iowa State Service Ribbon with four bronze oak leaf clusters.
He is presently serving as the air commander of the 132nd Fighter Wing, Des Moines, Iowa. He assumed this full time position in March 1990.
General Armington was promoted to and federally recognized as a brigadier general on May 15, 1991.
(Current as of February 2001)
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