Johnnie Edward Wilson
General, U.S. Army

Johnnie Edward Wilson was born on 4 February 1944 in Baton Rouge, LA. He was raised in Lorain, OH, and entered the Army in August 1961 as an enlisted soldier, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant before attending Officer Candidate School (OCS). On completion of OCS in 1967, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps.

Wilson had three company-level commands: A maintenance company in the 82nd Airborne Division as a First Lieutenant; followed by command of a supply and services company in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade; and B Company, 123rd Maintenance Battalion, 1st Armored Division, in Europe. As a Lieutenant Colonel, Wilson commanded the 709th Maintenance Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA, which converted and became the Army's first Main Support Battalion. He had two commands as a Colonel; serving as the DISCOM Commander of the 1st Armored Division, followed by command of the 13th Support Command at Fort Hood, TX.

Other key assignments for Wilson include: Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army, Pentagon; Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command; Commanding General, Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; Deputy Commanding General, 21st Area Theater Command, U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army; Commander, 13th Support Command, Fort Hood; and Commander, Division Support Command, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army Europe.

Wilson next served as the Deputy Commanding General, 21st TAACOM, the Army's largest and most diverse logistics unit. Based on his wide experience with leading soldiers, Wilson was selected to command the Ordnance Center and School responsible for the training and professional development of thousands of soldiers, NCOs, and officers every year. Following this successful assignment, General Wilson served as the Chief of Staff, Army Materiel Command (AMC), where he was responsible for resource and personnel management for a workforce with over 80,000 military and civilian members. From 1994-96, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army, where he was responsible for worldwide logistics. His final assignment was as Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command from 1996-99.

General Wilson retired from the U.S. Army on 26 April 1999.

Education

He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. His military education includes completion of the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; the Army Command and General Staff College; and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Wilson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal with 2 Bronze Loops
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award Numeral 3
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
Master Parachutist Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Special Forces Tab

In Retirement

After his retirement from the Army, Wilson became President and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensions International, Inc. He has also served on the board of the Truman Library Institute, after being nominated by Colin Powell, and serves on the Army Scholarship Foundation as a member of the Foundation's Honorary Advisory Committee.

Personal

Wilson is married to the former Helen McGhee of Elyria, OH. They have three children and seven grandchildren.