Colonel Kurt Davis, full-time director of the Utah National Guard’s Joint Staff, will be promoted to brigadier general in an official ceremony April 9, 2022, at noon at the Utah Air National Guard Base.

"I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity to serve as the director of the joint staff and to continue to serve with our incredible Soldiers and Airmen in this new capacity,” said Davis. “The past couple of years have demonstrated again the readiness and professionalism of our Guard members as they answered our state's call to support the COVID-19 pandemic, fight wild fires, support local law enforcement and help with debris removal after the wind storms, all while still deploying overseas and defending America.  It's just an honor to serve with our citizen Soldiers and Airmen."

As director of the joint staff, Davis serves as principal executive assistant and advisor to the Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Michael Turley. The DJS oversees all joint staff programs in preparation for operations in either a federal or state emergency, to include man-made or natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and federal military mobilizations. DJS also oversees the state’s Homeland Defense Program that includes: the state rapid reaction force, the contingency emergency response force, counterdrug operations, weapons of mass destruction—civil support teams, expeditionary medical support, and explosive ordnance disposal.

Davis, of Salem, has served in the Utah Air National Guard for more than 33 years. He began his career as an enlisted member of the Utah Air National Guard in 1989, as a KC-135E Stratotanker crew chief. He was the 7000th officer commissioned through the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee in 1991. He graduated in 1992 from Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather AFB, California, and was a distinguished graduate of the KC-135 Initial Navigator Training Course, Combat Crew Training School, Castle Air Force Base, California. He is a Master Navigator with more than 2,150 flying hours.

During his career, Davis has served in a variety of operational and staff positions at the headquarters, wing, squadron and flight levels including instructor/evaluator navigator, wing planner, current operations planner, chief of scheduling and current operations, community manager, wing executive officer, public affairs officer, state partnership program coordinator (with the country of Morocco), deputy director of human resources, director of human resources, vice wing commander, director of staff – Air, and commander of the 151st Air Refueling Wing.

Davis’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak-leaf clusters); Air Force Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster); Air Force Achievement Medal (with one oak leka cluster); Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Unit Award; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster; Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with one service star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with four service stars; Kosovo Campaign Medal; Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War On Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal; Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal; Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and one oak leaf cluster; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three ‘M’ devices and gold hour glass; and NATO Medal.

Colonel Kurt Davis, full-time director of the Utah National Guard’s Joint Staff, will be promoted to brigadier general in an official ceremony April 9, 2022, at noon at the Utah Air National Guard Base.

"I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity to serve as the director of the joint staff and to continue to serve with our incredible Soldiers and Airmen in this new capacity,” said Davis. “The past couple of years have demonstrated again the readiness and professionalism of our Guard members as they answered our state's call to support the COVID-19 pandemic, fight wild fires, support local law enforcement and help with debris removal after the wind storms, all while still deploying overseas and defending America.  It's just an honor to serve with our citizen Soldiers and Airmen."

As director of the joint staff, Davis serves as principal executive assistant and advisor to the Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Michael Turley. The DJS oversees all joint staff programs in preparation for operations in either a federal or state emergency, to include man-made or natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and federal military mobilizations. DJS also oversees the state’s Homeland Defense Program that includes: the state rapid reaction force, the contingency emergency response force, counterdrug operations, weapons of mass destruction—civil support teams, expeditionary medical support, and explosive ordnance disposal.

Davis, of Salem, has served in the Utah Air National Guard for more than 33 years. He began his career as an enlisted member of the Utah Air National Guard in 1989, as a KC-135E Stratotanker crew chief. He was the 7000th officer commissioned through the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee in 1991. He graduated in 1992 from Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather AFB, California, and was a distinguished graduate of the KC-135 Initial Navigator Training Course, Combat Crew Training School, Castle Air Force Base, California. He is a Master Navigator with more than 2,150 flying hours.

During his career, Davis has served in a variety of operational and staff positions at the headquarters, wing, squadron and flight levels including instructor/evaluator navigator, wing planner, current operations planner, chief of scheduling and current operations, community manager, wing executive officer, public affairs officer, state partnership program coordinator (with the country of Morocco), deputy director of human resources, director of human resources, vice wing commander, director of staff – Air, and commander of the 151st Air Refueling Wing.

Davis’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak-leaf clusters); Air Force Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster); Air Force Achievement Medal (with one oak leka cluster); Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Unit Award; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster; Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with one service star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with four service stars; Kosovo Campaign Medal; Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War On Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal; Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal; Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and one oak leaf cluster; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three ‘M’ devices and gold hour glass; and NATO Medal.