Johnnie E. Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnnie E. Wilson
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General Johnnie E. Wilson
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| Born | 9 February 1944 Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1961–1999 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | United States Army Materiel Command 13th Support Command Chief of Ordnance |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (3) |
| Other work | President and Chief Operating Officer, Dimensions International, Inc. |
General Johnnie Edward Wilson (born February 4, 1944) is a highly respected retired four-star general from the United States Army. He was in charge of the United States Army Materiel Command from 1996 to 1999. He also served as the 25th Chief of Ordnance for the United States Army Ordnance Corps. This means he was the top leader for all things related to Army equipment and supplies.
Contents
General Johnnie Wilson's Army Journey
Starting in the Army
Johnnie Wilson was born on February 5, 1944, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He grew up in Lorain, Ohio. In August 1961, he joined the United States Army as an enlisted soldier. He worked his way up to the rank of staff sergeant.
In 1967, he went to Officer Candidate School (OCS). After finishing OCS, he became a second lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps. This corps handles all the Army's weapons, vehicles, and supplies.
Education and Training
General Wilson is a very educated leader. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He also has a Master of Science degree in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. Logistics is all about planning and managing how things move and are supplied.
His military training includes special courses for ordnance officers. He also completed the Army Command and General Staff College. This college teaches officers how to lead large groups and plan big operations. He also attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Leading the Army
General Wilson held many important leadership roles. His most important job was leading the United States Army Materiel Command. This command is responsible for getting soldiers the equipment and supplies they need.
Some of his other key jobs included:
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at the Pentagon. This means he helped manage supplies for the entire Army.
- Chief of Staff for the United States Army Materiel Command.
- Commanding General of the Ordnance Center and School in Maryland. Here, he oversaw the training of thousands of soldiers.
- Deputy Commanding General for the 21st Area Theater Command in Europe.
- Commander of the 13th Support Command in Texas.
- Commander of the Division Support Command for the 1st Armored Division in Europe.
General Wilson commanded units at every level. He led three different companies as a young officer. Later, as a lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 709th Maintenance Battalion. This battalion was the first "Main Support Battalion" in the Army. He also commanded two different units as a colonel.
He later became the Chief of Ordnance for the United States Army. In this role, he commanded the United States Army Ordnance Center and School. This school trains soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers every year. After this, he managed resources and people for over 80,000 military and civilian workers. From 1994 to 1996, he was in charge of worldwide logistics for the Army.
Awards and Recognition
General Wilson received many awards for his excellent service. These include:
- The Army Distinguished Service Medal (twice)
- The Legion of Merit (twice)
- The Bronze Star Medal (three times)
- The Meritorious Service Medal (three times)
- The Army Commendation Medal
- The Good Conduct Medal
He also earned special badges like the Special Forces Tab and the Master Parachutist Badge. General Wilson retired from the Army on April 26, 1999, after a long and successful career.
Life After the Army
After retiring from the military, General Wilson continued to be a leader. He became the President and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensions International, Inc. He also joined the board of the Truman Library Institute. This happened after he was nominated by Colin Powell, another famous general. He also helps the Army Scholarship Foundation.
General Wilson is married to Helen McGhee. They have three children and seven grandchildren. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi.
He also served on the Morgan State Board of Regents for ten years. He was on the Washington First Bank Board of Directors. Many honors have been given to him, including a school, a park, and a tower named after him in Lorain, Ohio. He also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Alabama A&M University.
