Lt. Gen. Jay M. Garner

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Lieutenant General (Retired) Jay M. Garner's last active duty assignment was on the US Army Staff where he served as the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (AVCSA). Garner was born in Arcadia, Florida on April 15, 1938. He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in History. He obtained a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. His military service began with the Florida Army National Guard. He continued his service to this Nation as an enlisted Marine and in 1962 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Garner served as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command (USASSDC), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. He also served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Force Development, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Washington, D.C., Deputy Commanding General, V Corps Frankfurt Germany; Commanding General, Joint Task Force Bravo - Operation Provide Comfort Northern Iraq and Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Defense School. He commanded at Brigade and Battalion level in VII Corps in Europe. He served two tours in Viet Nam, 1967-68, 1971-72. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with five oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Army General Staff Identification Badge. He also holds the highest DoD award for civilian service to the nation. He served as President of SY Technology, Inc. and SY Coleman from l997 -2004. He also served as a member of the Army Science Board in 1998-1999 and was appointed by Congress as a member of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization in 2000-2001. From 2000-2004, he served as a member of the Manufacturing and Materiels Board of Penn State University. He served on the USSTRATCOM Strategic Advisory Board in 2002. In January 2003 he was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to organize and direct the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for post-war Iraq. Garner and his wife, the former Connie Kreigh, have one daughter, Lori Gibson, and two granddaughters, Courtney and Brittany.