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Home : People : Leadership : Biography View

MG Bryan M. Howay

Commanding General

Major General Bryan M. Howay has the distinction of coming through the ranks of Private all the way up to Two-Star General. He commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry upon completion of Officer Candidate School in 1993.

MG Howay has commanded at the Company, Battalion and Brigade levels. He has served as the acting Commanding General of First Army Division East, Director of the Joint Staff for the Kentucky National Guard, and the Deputy Commanding General of First Army Division East at Ft Knox, Kentucky. Additional assignments include Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment; Commander of Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment; Commander, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, deploying the unit to Bratunac, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, from 2002-2003. He deployed to Iraq from 2006-2007 as part of the “surge” while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, as the Operations Officer-in-Charge, and again with the unit to Balad, Iraq, in 2010. Upon returning, he served as Deputy Commander of the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; Executive Officer and then Commander of 75th Troop Command; Joint Operations Officer (Training). MG Howay served as Operations Officer (Air) and Operations and Chief of Staff for Kentucky Joint Force Headquarters.

His military education includes Infantry Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Staff School, Intermediate Level Education Course and the Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Education both from the University of Louisville, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College.

His awards and decorations include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (3 Bronze Stars), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.