Lieutenant General
Russell C. Davis is chief, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va. As chief, he
serves as the senior uniformed National Guard officer responsible for formulating,
developing, and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting over half a
million Army and Air National Guard personnel. Appointed by the president, the
general serves as the principal advisor to the secretary and chief of staff of the Army,
and the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force on all National Guard issues. As the
chief, NGB, he serves as the Army's and Air Force's official channel of communication with
the governors and adjutants general.
The general began his military career in the U.S. Air Force in 1958 as an aviation cadet. Following pilot training, he was assigned at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska. He was released from active duty in 1965, when he joined the Iowa Air National Guard in Des Moines. He has served in numerous command and staff positions, from squadron pilot to director of operations. He commanded the 113th Fighter Wing, District of Columbia, prior to being appointed as the Commanding General of the District of Columbia. He was appointed vice chief of the National Guard Bureau in December 1995.
1963 Bachelor of art degree in general education, University of Nebraska, Omaha,
Neb.
1969 Juris doctor degree in law, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.
1973 Air Command & Staff College, by correspondence.
1979 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1989 National and International Security Management Course, Harvard University, Cambridge,
Mass.
1. December 1958 - March 1960, undergraduate pilot training, Graham Air Base, Fla., and
Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. March 1960 - October 1960, strategic bombardment pilot, 4347th Combat Crew Training
Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
3. October 1960 - April 1965, bomber pilot, 344th Bomber Squadron, Lincoln Air Force Base,
Neb.
4. April 1965 - September 1968, pilot, 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Iowa Air
National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa.
5. September 1968 - September 1970, flight commander, 124th Tactical Fighter Squadron,
Iowa Air National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa.
6. September 1970 - June 1977, air operations officer, 132nd Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa
Air National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa.
7. June 1977 - October 1978, officer in charge, Command Post, 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing,
Iowa Air National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa.
8. October 1978 - June 1979, deputy commander of operations, Headquarters Iowa Air
National Guard, Des Moines, Iowa.
9. June 1979 - February 1980, deputy chief, Manpower and Personnel, Air National Guard
Support Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
10. March 1980 - January 1982, executive to the chief, National Guard Bureau, the
Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. February 1982 - July 1990, wing commander, 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, District of
Columbia Air National Guard, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
12. July 1990 - December 1991, Air National Guard assistant to the commander, Tactical Air
Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
13. December 1991 - December 1995, commanding general, District of Columbia National
Guard, Washington D.C.
14. December 1995 - August 1998, vice chief, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon,
Washington D.C.
15. August 1998 - present, chief, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va.
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,700
Aircraft flown: B-47, T-33, F-89, F-84, F-100, A-7, F-4, F-16
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with nine oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
1956-1958 University scholar, Tuskegee University
1969 Jury Award, Drake University Law School
1984 NAACP Roy Wilkins Achievement Award
1985 Air Force Association Service Award, AFA Headquarters
1985 Tuskegee Airmen Achievement Award
1987 Tuskegee Airmen Achievement and Service Award
1988 Air Force Association, Ira Eaker Fellow, Tony Anthony Chapter
1990 Howard Kacy Flying Safety Award, District of Columbia Air National Guard
1992-1998 Member, Drake University Board of Trustees
Second Lieutenant Mar 18, 1960
First Lieutenant Mar 18, 1963
Captain Mar 18, 1965
Major Mar 19, 1969
Lieutenant Colonel Oct 13, 1973
Colonel Jan 26, 1979
Brigadier General Dec 16, 1982
Major General Aug 3, 1990
Lieutenant General Sep 1, 1998
(Current as of January 1999)
The date of publication
indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily
reflect the date of printing.