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The Adjutant General's Department

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Sharon Watson
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http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     Aug. 8, 2008

No. 08-083

KANSAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD RECEIVES NEW COMMANDER AUG. 10

Brig. Gen. Jonathan P. Small will turn over command of Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas Land Component and relinquish his role as assistant adjutant general - Army to Brig. Gen. John E. Davoren during a special change of command ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 10. The 9 a.m. ceremony will be at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard, Forbes Field, Topeka.

“Brigadier General Small has been a superior leader for the Kansas Army National Guard for nine years,” said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general. “He was always ready with the answer to any question I had and his advice was invaluable. We will all miss his leadership and wisdom.”

“However, I can breathe easy knowing that I’m getting another experienced and capable leader in Brigadier General Davoren,” said Bunting. “He’s proven his worth both at home and in commands overseas. I’m sure that Brigadier General Small is leaving his command in good hands.”

Brig. Gen. John E. Davoren

Brig. Gen. John Davoren was commissioned in 1976 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Kansas.
After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger training he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Company A, 503rd Infantry at Fort Campbell, Ky. In July 1979, he was assigned to Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and executive officer, 1st Aviation Battalion at Fort Riley, Kan.

Since joining the Kansas Army National Guard his assignments have included commander, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; intelligence officer, 69th Brigade; operations officer, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; commander, 22nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; commander, 69th Troop Command and most recently assistant division commander, 35th Infantry Division.

While serving as the assistant division commander, Davoren commanded the Multi-National Task Force-East, KFOR 9 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, from Nov. 2, 2007, to July 10, 2008, during the division's deployment to Kosovo.

Davoren's education includes Infantry Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Accounting from the University of Kansas, a master's degree in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserves Components Overseas Training Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, Nebraska Meritorious Service Medal, Kansas Emergency Service Ribbon, Expert Infantry Badge, Aviation Badge, Parachute Badge, Air Assault Badge and Ranger Tab.
Davoren and his wife, Debra, reside in Lansing, Kan. Their daughter, Jennifer, resides in Houston, Texas, and their son, Kyle, lives in Manhattan, Kan.

Brig. Gen. Jonathan P. Small

Brig. Gen. Jonathan P. Small assumed the position of assistant adjutant general - Army, Kansas Army National Guard, on July 1, 1999. He is also commander of the Land Component for the Joint Force Headquarters-Kansas.

Small was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Kansas State University on June 1, 1969. He was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1972 and entered the Officer Basic Course at the Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla., graduating that December. From December 1972 to March 1979, Small was in the United States Army Reserve. Since becoming a member of the Kansas Army National Guard in March 1979, he has served in a number of positions at State Area Command headquarters, including operations and training officer, executive officer, civil-military operations officer, staff judge advocate, judge advocate and senior military judge. Small became the staff judge advocate in June 1990 for Headquarters, State Area Command, Kansas Army National Guard, a position he held until becoming the deputy commander of State Area Command in October 1998. He held the position of Kansas judge advocate general under appointment of the governor from May 1984 until May 1999. He was promoted to brigadier general in July 2000.

Small's military education includes the Field Artillery School Advance Course, Command and General Staff College, the Judge Advocate General School's Basic and Advance Courses and the U.S. Army War College. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Kansas State University in 1969 and a Juris Doctorate degree in 1972 from Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kan.

His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
Small has owned a private law practice in Topeka for more than 25 years. He was Assistant Kansas Attorney General from 1973-1978 and

Deputy Kansas Attorney General from 1978-1979. He is a member of the Kansas and American Bar Associations and the National Association of Bond Lawyers. He is also a member of the American Legion, National Guard Association of the United States and Kansas and the Association of the United States Army.

Small and his wife, Georgia Ann, reside in Topeka.

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