Brigadier
General Richard W. Averitt currently serves as the Deputy Commander, Louisiana
State Area Command. In January of 1969, General Averitt was commissioned a
Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps upon graduation
from Northwestern State College. General Averitt served a tour of duty in the
Republic of Vietnam in 1970 as a platoon leader and was mobilized with the 256th
Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) in 1990 serving as Executive Officer.
1969 Northwestern State College - BA Degree - Education
1973 Northwestern State University - MA Degree - Student Personnel
1975 McNeese State University - MEd Degree - Education
1980 McNeese State University - EdS Degree- Administration and Supervision
1996 Army War College
1. Jan 69-Mar 69, USAR Control Group (Delayed)
2. Mar 69-May 69, Student, Military Police School, Military Officer Basic
Course, Fort Gordon, Georgia
3. May 69-Feb 70, Assistant Operations Officer, 521st Military Police Company
(Service), Fort Belvoir, Virginia
4. Feb 70-Apr 70, Casual
5. Apr 70-Sep 70, Platoon Leader, 152nd Military Police Platoon, 199th Light
Infantry Brigade (Separate), United States Army, Vietnam
6. Sep 70-Oct 70, Assistant Installation Coordinator, 199th Light Infantry
Brigade (Separate), United States Army, Vietnam
7. Dec 70-Mar 71, USAR Control Group (Annual Training)
8. Mar 71-Jul 71, Supply Officer, 773rd Maintenance Battalion (General Support),
Alexandria, Louisiana
9. Jul 71-Oct 71, Operations Officer, 773rd Maintenance Battalion (General
Support) Alexandria, Louisiana
10. Nov 71-Jan 72, Assistant S2/S3, 773rd Supply and Service Battalion (Cadre),
Alexandria, Louisiana
11. Jan 72-Sep 73, Commander, 3671st Heavy Equipment Maintenance Company
(General Support), Alexandria, Louisiana
12. Sep 73-Oct 75, In Storage Maintenance Officer, 773rd Supply and Service
Battalion, Alexandria, Louisiana
13. Nov 75-Sep 76, In Storage Maintenance Officer, 165th Transportation
Battalion, Alexandria, Louisiana
14. Oct 76-Feb 77, Motor Office 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry (Mechanized), Lake
Charles, Louisiana
15. Mar 77-Jan 79, S4, 3rd Battalion 156th Infantry (Mechanized), Lake Charles,
Louisiana
16. Jan 79-Feb 80, Assistant Brigade Supply Officer, 199th Support Battalion,
Alexandria, Louisiana
17. Feb 80-Apr 81, Forward Area Support Coordinating Officer, 256th Infantry
Brigade (Mechanized) Lafayette, Louisiana
18. Apr 81-Jun 85, Brigade Supply Officer, 199th Support Battalion, Alexandria,
Louisiana
19. Jul 85-Dec 89, Battalion Commander, 199th Support Battalion, Alexandria,
Louisiana
20. Jan 90-Nov 90, Deputy Chief of Staff, Detachment 2 Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Lafayette, Louisiana
21. Nov 90-Nov 90, Executive Officer, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized),
Lafayette, Louisiana
22. Nov 90-May 91, Executive Officer, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized),
Lafayette, Louisiana (Active Duty / Desert Storm)
23. May 91-Sep 92, Executive Officer, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized),
Lafayette, Louisiana
24. Sep 92-Aug 95, Commander, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Lafayette,
Louisiana
25. Sep 95-Sep 96, Deputy Commander, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized)
Lafayette, Louisiana
26. Sep 96-Nov 97, Commander, 204th Area Support Group, New Orleans, Louisiana
27. Nov 97-Mar 99, Commander, 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) Lafayette,
Louisiana
28. Apr 99-Mar 00, Deputy Commander, Louisiana State Area Command, New Orleans,
Louisiana
29. Apr 00-Feb 02, Assistant Adjutant General, Army, Louisiana National Guard,
New Orleans, Louisiana
30. Feb 02-Present, Deputy Commander, Louisiana State Area Command, New Orleans,
Louisiana
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 bronze Service Star)
Vietnam Service Medal (with 1 bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 silver Hourglass Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (with'60' device)
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (with Palm)
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Army Lapel Button
In April 1998, Brigadier General Averitt was employed by the Louisiana Military Department and currently serves as the Director of Education Programs. Prior to his employment with the Louisiana Military Department, Brigadier General Averitt worked for over 25 years in higher education for State of Louisiana.
2LT USAR 23 Jan 69
1LT USAR 23 Mar 70
1LT ARNG 27 Mar 71
CPT ARNG 19 Jun 73
MAJ ARNG 30 Apr 80
LTC ARNG 15 Aug 85
COL ARNG 19 Sep 92
BG (Line) ARNG 30 Jul 98
(Current as of March 2003)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.