Wayne Downing

Wayne Downing    (soldier)
Born	1940-05-10 Peoria, Illinois
Died	2007-07-18 (Age 67) Peoria, Illinois
Alma mater	United States Military Academy, Tulane University
Member of	Committee for the Liberation of Iraq
Author of the Downing Plan, a blueprint for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Wayne Allan Downing was a four-star United States Army who retired in 1996, after a career that spanned from the Vietnam War to the invasion of Panama. From 1999 to 2000, he was a member of the National Counter Terrorism Commission (Bremer Commission), asked with examining the extent of the terrorist threat in the United States.

Coming out of retirement, General Downing joined the National Security Council staff in October, 2001 with a mandate to organize and staff the NSC's Office of Combating Terrorism and the Office of Homeland Security's Intelligence and Detection Directorate.

He was the author of the Downing Plan, a blueprint for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and a lobbyist for the CIA-backed Iraqi National Congress.

In 2008 it was revealed Downing had been recruited as one of over 75 retired military officers involved in the Pentagon military analyst program. Participants appeared on television and radio news shows as military analysts, and/or penned newspaper op/ed columns.

Early Career

Downing was born in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 and held a Master of Business Administration degree from Tulane University.

His 34-year career in the U.S. Army took him from the Vietnam war to senior positions, ending as Commander in Chief of the U.S Special Operations Command, where he was responsible for all special operations forces in the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force. His career included commands in infantry, armored, airborne, special operation and joint units.

He commanded all U.S. special operations forces during the 1989 invasion of Panama and commanded a joint special operations task force during the first Gulf War in 1990.

After retirement

After his retirement in 1996, he was on the board of directors at a private military company, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

Following the June 25, 1996 bombing of the Hobar Towers complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 US Air Force personnel and injured 372 others, Downing was assigned to lead a presidential task force to investigate the attack.

From 1999 to 2000, he was a member of the National Counter Terrorism Commission (Bremer Commission), created on behalf of the US Congress. The Commission was tasked with examining the extent of the terrorist threat in the United States, assessing American law, policy, and practical measures to counter and punish terrorism against American citizens, and suggesting corrective measures.

From October 10, 2001 to June 27, 2002, he served as the Chief Adviser to the President of the United States on Counter Terrorism, serving as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Condoleezza Rice and at the same time heading the Counter Terrorism Office of the US National Security Council.

While working in the White House, he "coordinated military, diplomatic, law enforcement, intelligence, financial and strategic information activities" aimed at combating terrorists and terrorist-supporting structures.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Downing was also given responsibility to lead the Intelligence Directorate in the Office of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for coordinating the external and internal counter-terrorism activities of the US government.

He was the author of the so-called "Downing Plan", according to which, to change the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, it is not required to concentrate large military contingents in the region, and the objectives of the operation can be achieved with the help of several dozen mobile special forces units, which will be supported by the Iraqi opposition in the north and the south of the country. In addition to saving budgetary funds, the Downing Plan made it possible to complete the task in a relatively short period and without lengthy preparation.

The Pentagon's military analyst program

After learning of his death, NBC News's Brian Williams wrote that "Downing was a brilliant warrior, a true patriot and a great friend. He was also a trusted adviser to NBC News."

In April 2008 documents obtained by New York Times reporter David Barstow revealed that Downing had been recruited as one of over 75 retired military officers involved in the Pentagon military analyst program. Participants appeared on television and radio news shows as military analysts, and/or penned newspaper op/ed columns. The program was launched in early 2002 by then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Victoria Clarke. The idea was to recruit "key influentials" to help sell a wary public on "a possible Iraq invasion."

Downing was also an "unpaid lobbyist and adviser to the Iraqi National Congress, an CIA-backed (and bankrolled) opposition group that stands to profit from regime change in Iraq."

From February 2003 until his death, he headed the Center for Combating Terrorism at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In addition, Downing was a visiting professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, where he taught seminars on leadership and change management.

Military career

• Sep 62 – Feb 63 Student, Infantry Officer Basic and Ranger Course
• Apr 63 – Jun 64 Platoon Leader, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate)
• Jun 64 – Sep 64 Liaison Officer, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate)
• Dec 64 – Oct 65 Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vietnam
• Oct 65 – Apr 66 S-2/S-5 (Intel/Civil Affairs) Officer, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vietnam
• Apr 66 – Aug 67 Instructor, Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA
• Aug 67 – Jan 68 Company Commander, Infantry Training Center, Fort Benning, GA
• Jan 68 – Sep 68 Student, Infantry Officer Advance Course, Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA
• Sep 68 – Dec 68 Company Commander, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam
• Dec 68 – Sep 69 Battalion S-3 (Operations) Officer, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam
• Sep 69 – Oct 69 Brigade S-3 (Operations) Officer, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam
• Dec 69 – Jan 72 Graduate Student, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
• Feb 72 – Jun 72 Student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
• Jun 72 – Feb 75 Senior Operations / Systems Analyst, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
• Mar 75 – Dec 76 Battalion S-3 Officer / Executive Officer, 75th Infantry (Ranger), Fort Stewart, GA
• Dec 76 – Mar 77 Commander, Task Force (Alaska), 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA
• May 77 – Jul 79 Commander, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry, Fort Lewis, WA
• Aug 79 – May 80 Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
• Jun 80 – Apr 82 Secretary to Joint Staff, European Command, Vaihingen, Germany
• May 82 – Apr 84 Commander, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army Europe, Germany
• May 84 – Nov 85 Commander, 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger), Fort Benning, GA
• Nov 85 – Jun 87 Deputy Commanding General, 1st Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC
• Jun 87 – May 88 Director, Washington Office, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL
• May 88 – Dec 89 Deputy Chief of Staff (Training), U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA
• Dec 89 – Aug 91 Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC
• Aug 91 – Apr 93 Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC
• May 93 – Feb 96 Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, FL

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