Russell C. Davis

Lieutenant General Russell C. Davis (born October 22, 1938) was a United States Air Force Lieutenant General who served as commander of the District of Columbia National Guard and Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Early life
Russell C. Davis was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on October 22, 1938, and graduated from Tuskegee Institute High School. As recounted in a speech at Simpson College, Davis's great-great grandfather, a former slave, helped raise money to found what now is known as Tuskegee University. Davis’s grandfather worked for George Washington Carver at Tuskegee, and Davis related that when he was a child attending a nursery school on campus, Carver was still a well-known figure at the school, the "tall man in a lab coat" who gave the children candy.

He began his military career in 1958 as an aviation cadet in the United States Air Force, and he received his commission in 1960. Following pilot training, he was assigned at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, and he graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Arts degree in general education in 1963. He was released from active duty in April, 1965.

Start of National Guard career
Upon release from active duty Davis joined the Iowa Air National Guard in Des Moines. He served in numerous command and staff positions from squadron pilot to director of operations, and advanced through the ranks to Colonel.

In 1969 Davis completed his Juris Doctor degree at Drake University and became an attorney. He practiced Until 1979, when he went on active duty with the Air National Guard. Davis graduated from the Air Command and Staff College in 1973 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1979.

Later National Guard career
In June, 1979 Davis was appointed as Chief of Manpower and Personnel at the Air National Guard Support Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. From March, 1980 to January, 1982 he was Executive Officer to the Director of the Air National Guard.

From February, 1982 to July, 1990 he commanded the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, and he was promoted to Brigadier General in December, 1982. Davis was the first African-American to become a general officer in the Air National Guard.

In 1989 Davis graduated from the National and International Security Management Course at Harvard University.

Davis was the Assistant for National Guard Matters for the commander of the Tactical Air Command from July, 1990 to December, 1991. He was promoted to Major General in August, 1990.

D.C. National Guard
in December, 1991 Davis was appointed commander of the District of Columbia National Guard. He served in this position until December, 1995.

National Guard Bureau
In December, 1995 Davis was appointed Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. He held this post until August, 1998, when he was named Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to Lieutenant General. Davis was the first African-American to serve as NGB Chief, and he held the position until retiring in November, 2002.

In January, 2002 Davis received a letter of rebuke from the Secretary of the Air Force. He received the letter as a result of an investigation which revealed that he had failed to discipline a senior aide who had sexually harassed a colleague, and had misled investigators about his role in the incident. The investigator's report indicated that Davis's version of events was "not credible" and "failed to meet the standard for honesty."

At the time of his retirement, Davis was the last member of the aviation cadet program to still be serving in the military.

Retirement
Davis was active in several educational and civic endeavors, including serving as member of the Drake University Board of Trustees and President of National Tuskeege Airmen, Inc.

Education

 * 1963 Bachelor of Arts degree in general education, University of Nebraska, Omaha
 * 1969 Juris Doctor degree in law, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
 * 1973 Air Command and 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, Massachusetts

Assignments

 * 1) December 1958 - March 1960, undergraduate pilot training, Graham Air Base, Florida and Vance AFB, Oklahoma
 * 2) March 1960 - October 1960, strategic bombardment pilot, 4347th Combat Crew Training Wing, McConnell AFB, Kansas
 * 3) October 1960 - April 1965, bomber pilot, 344th Bomber Squadron, Lincoln AFB, Nebraska
 * 4) April 1965 - September 1968, pilot, 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Iowa ANG, Des Moines
 * 5) September 1968 - September 1970, flight commander, 124th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Iowa National Guard, Des Moines
 * 6) September 1970 - June 1977, air operations officer, 132nd Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa ANG, Des Moines
 * 7) June 1977 - October 1978, officer in charge, Command Post, 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Iowa ANG, Des Moines
 * 8) October 1978 - June 1979, Deputy Commander of Operations, Headquarters Iowa ANG, Des Moines
 * 9) June 1979 - February 1980, Deputy Chief, Manpower and Personnel, Air National Guard Support Center, Andrews AFB, Maryland
 * 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 ANG, Andrews AFB, Maryland
 * 12) July 1990 - December 1991, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
 * 13) December 1991 - December 1995, Commanding General, District of Columbia National Guard, Washington, D.C.
 * 14) December 1995 - August 1998, Vice Chief, NGB, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
 * 15) August 1998 - November 2002, Chief, NGB, Arlington, Virginia

Flight information

 * 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 and F-16

Awards and decorations

 * Other awards and achievements


 * 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, Air Force Association Headquarters
 * 1985: Tuskegee Airmen Achievement Award
 * 1987: Tuskegee Airmen Achievement and Service Award
 * 1988: Ira Eaker Fellow, Tony Anthony Chapter, AFA
 * 1990: Howard Kacy Flying Safety Award, District of Columbia ANG
 * 1992-1998: Drake University Board of Trustees
 * 2012 Carver Medal, Simpson College