the Adjutant General

August 18, 2011

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major General francis d. vavala

Major General Francis D. Vavala assumed duties as Adjutant General of the Delaware National Guard in February 1999, after serving as Assistant Adjutant General, Delaware Army National Guard. As adjutant general, he is responsible for the mission readiness of all Delaware National Guard units, Army and Air, for both federal and state missions.

Born on June 28, 1947, in Wilmington, Delaware, he joined the Delaware Army National Guard in March 1967 as a private. He was commissioned in June 1970 after completing the Delaware Military Academy Officer Candidate School. General Vavala received his bachelor's degree in business management from Wilmington College, Wilmington, Delaware. Before his appointment as Adjutant General, he was a Marketing Services Supervisor for the DuPont Company, Wilmington, Delaware.

General Vavala's military schooling includes completion of the signal officer basic and advanced courses and the Command and General Staff College.

In over 43 years of military service, General Vavala has held a series of key command and staff positions. Prior to his assignment as the Adjutant General, he served in the following key assignments: Corps Tactical Operations Center Platoon Leader, Company A 198th Signal Battalion; Company Commander, Company C 198th Signal Battalion; Executive Officer and Battalion Commander, 198th Signal Battalion; Operations Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Delaware Army National Guard; Communications Systems Engineer, Wire Communications Technical Engineer, Traffic Officer, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander, 261st Signal Command; Commander, Troop Command; Director of Plans, Operations, Training, and Military Support, Deputy Commander, and Assistant Adjutant General, State Area Command Headquarters, Delaware Army National Guard.

General Vavala's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross, Delaware Medal for Military Merit with four bronze numerals, Delaware National Defense Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Delaware Medal for Aid to Civil Authorities with three numerals, Delaware Recruiting Ribbon, and the Delaware Physical Fitness Ribbon (6th Award).

The general's civic affiliations include the National Guard Association of the United States (Chairman, Board of Directors), National Guard Association of Delaware, Association of the United States Army, Adjutants General Association of the United States (Former President), St. Anthony of Padua Church, Knights of Columbus, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Warrant Officer Association of the United States, Air Force Association, Signal Corps Regimental Association, Delaware Medal of Honor Historical Association, Retired Officers Association, the American Legion, and Sons of the American Revolution.

General Vavala and his wife Jane reside in New Castle County, Delaware. They have two daughters, a son, and three grandchildren.

EDUCATION:

1984, Wilmington University - Bachelor's of Science Degree - Business Management

ASSIGNMENTS:

Jun 70 - Feb 74, CTOC Platoon Leader, Co. A, 198th Signal Battalion, DEARNG
Feb 74 - Apr 78, Company Commander, Company C, 198th Signal Battalion, DEARNG
May 78 - Sep 81, Executive Officer, HHC 198th Signal Battalion, DEARNG
Oct 81 - Oct 83, Operations Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Det, DEARNG
Nov 83 - Feb 86, Battalion Commander, 198th Signal Battalion, DEARNG
Feb 86 - Mar 86, Communications Systems Engineer, 261st Signal CMD, DEARNG
Apr 86 - Jul 86, Wire Communications Technical Engineer, 261st Signal CMD, DEARNG
Aug 86 - Sep 87, Traffic Officer, HHC 261st Signal Command, DEARNG
Sep 87 - Dec 91, Commander, 72nd Troop Command, DEARNG
Jan 92 - Jan 92, Chief of Staff, 261st Signal Command, DEARNG
Feb 92 - Jul 92, Deputy Commander, State Area Command, DEARNG
Aug 92 - Mar 93, Director of Plans, Operations, Training, and Military Support, DEARNG
Apr 93 - Aug 93, Deputy Commander, State Area Command, DEARNG
Aug 93 - Jan 99, Assistant Adjutant General, State Area Command, DEARNG
Feb 99 - Present, Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 oak leaf cluster)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal-
(with 1 silver oak leaf cluster and 2 bronze oak leaf clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 bronze service star)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 hourglass)
Army Service Ribbon
Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross
Delaware Medal for Military Merit (4th award)
Delaware National Defense Serive Ribbon (2nd award)
Delaware Medal for Aid to Civil Authorities (3rd award)
Delaware Recruiting Ribbon
Delaware Physical Fitness Ribbon (6th award)

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

Retired from E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Delaware.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Chestnut Run Plaza Work/Life Award, 1992
St. Anthony of Padua Church Youth Activities Council, Man of the Year Award, 1985
Columbus Day Communion Breakfast Committee, Italian American of the Year, 2005
Adjutants General Association of the United States, Secretary, 2003
Adjutants General Association of the United States, Vice President, 2005
Adjutants General Association of the United States, President, 2007

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

2LT USAR 20 Jun 70
1LT ARNG 19 Jun 73
CPT ARNG 19 Jul 75
MAJ ARNG 19 Jul 79
LTC ARNG 29 Sep 83
COL ARNG 15 Dec 87
BG ARNG 20 Jun 95
MG ARNG 31 Mar 00

(Current as of August 2010)