John W. Shannon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Shannon
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| United States Secretary of the Army Acting |
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| In office January 20, 1993 – August 26, 1993 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Michael P. W. Stone |
| Succeeded by | Gordon R. Sullivan (Acting) |
| United States Under Secretary of the Army | |
| In office August 14, 1989 – November 23, 1993 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Michael P. W. Stone |
| Succeeded by | Joe R. Reeder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 13, 1933 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 2017 (aged 83) Clinton, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Central State University (BS) Shippensburg University (MS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank |  Colonel |
John William Shannon Sr. (September 13, 1933 – March 17, 2017) was an important American government official. He served as the United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1989 to 1993. This means he was a high-ranking leader in the U.S. Army's civilian leadership.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Shannon was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 13, 1933. He went to Central State College. In 1955, he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. His studies focused on industrial education.
Military Career
After college, John Shannon joined the United States Army. He became an officer, starting as a second lieutenant. He was part of the Infantry, which is the part of the army that fights on foot.
Serving in Vietnam
During his time in the Army, he held roles as a commander and a staff officer. He served two times in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. There, he worked as a military advisor and led a group of soldiers called a battalion.
Working with Congress
From 1972 to 1974, he worked as a liaison officer for the United States Congress. This means he helped connect the Army with lawmakers in Congress. In 1975, he earned a Master of Science (M.S.) degree. He studied public administration at Shippensburg State College. He retired from the Army in 1978. By then, he had reached the rank of colonel.
Government Service
After leaving the Army, John Shannon continued to work for the government. He took on several important roles.
Roles in the Department of Defense
He became a special assistant for manpower, reserve affairs, and logistics. These roles involved managing people, military reserves, and supplies. From 1981 to 1984, he was the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army. This was another senior position.
Assistant Secretary of the Army
In 1984, President of the United States Ronald Reagan chose John Shannon for a new role. He became the Assistant Secretary of the Army. In this job, he was in charge of things like military bases, energy use, and environmental matters. He held this position until 1989.
Under Secretary of the Army
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated John Shannon for an even higher role. He became the United States Under Secretary of the Army. He held this important position from August 1989 until November 1993. During this time, he also served as the Acting United States Secretary of the Army for several months in 1993.
Later Life and Legacy
After his time as Under Secretary, John Shannon worked as a consultant. He later started his own company, Shannon Consulting Services.
John Shannon passed away on March 17, 2017. He was buried with his wife, Jean R. Shannon, at Arlington National Cemetery. This is a special cemetery for military members and their families.
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John W. Shannon
