Committees: Programs Committee
Major General Andrew B. Davis was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. in June 1970. During his first period of active service, he was a rifle platoon commander in 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, in southeast Asia, then served as a series commander in 1st Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego. He left active service in June 1973.
After receiving a Masters Degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, in 1974, he commenced his service with the Selected Marine Corps Reserve. From 1975 to 1985, he served with 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, first as assistant S-3 officer, then as commanding officer, Company H (1978-80), S-1, S-2 and S-3. He participated during this period in Operation BOLD GUARD in northeast Germany (1978), and numerous training exercises. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in November 1986, he assumed command of Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48, NAS Glenview, IL.
From January 1990 to January 1992, he was commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Called to active duty in conjunction with Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM in December 1990, the unit became the first special operations trained Marine Reserve infantry battalion. The unit was forward deployed as the ground combat element of Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4-90 in the Republic of the Philippines and participated in Operation FIERY VIGIL, the relief of Subic Bay in the wake of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
Promoted to colonel in July 1992, he commanded Headquarters Detachment 4, Marine Reserve Force, Chicago, IL. In 1996, he completed a three-year tour on the Secretary of the Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board, and served as officer-in-charge of the Ninth Mobilization Region, Marine Corps Reserve Support Command. From 1996 to 1998 he was commander, Joint Reserve Unit, U.S. Atlantic Command, Norfolk.
He was selected for promotion to brigadier general in April 2000 and served as the assistant division commander of the 4th Marine Division. In July 2001, he was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps as the Director of Marine Corps Public Affairs, where he served until June 2003.
In September 2003 BGen Davis assumed command of 4th Force Service Support Group and accepted further assignment as the Commanding General, II MEF Augmentation Command Element in July 2005. BGen Davis was redesignated as Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Mobilization) in December 2005 from where he was promoted to major general in January 2006.
He subsequently served as Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, until 2007, when he assumed command of Marine Corps Mobilization Command, Kansas City, MO, until is retirement in October, 2008.
MajGen Davis has completed Reserve Amphibious Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and is a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Army War College. His personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
In his civilian profession, after 30 years in the newspaper industry as reporter, editor, publisher and educator, in December 2003, he was named president and executive director of the American Press Institute. Headquartered in Reston, VA, API is the newspaper industry's transformation research and executive leadership training center.
