Major General John D. Taylor assumed command of the Virginia Defense Force in August, 2006. General Taylor is responsible for the emergency preparedness, administration and training of 1200 Virginia Defense Force personnel under the Virginia Department of Military Affairs.
General Taylor’s was commissioned as second Lieutenant in September, 1970. His first assignments included field artillery positions in the Virginia Army National Guard in his home town unit in Emporia. After these assignments, General Taylor’s experience at the National Guard Bureau, over the next twenty years, included management analysis of Department of Defense, Army and Army National Guard force management processes, policies, military strategy and warfight doctrine including extensive experience in the Army National Guard Directorate. General Taylor retired from the Virginia Army National Guard as a Colonel with over 33 years of service in 2006.
Concurrent with his role as Commanding General of the VDF, General Taylor continues to work, providing contract support to the National Guard Bureau, J8/Requirements and Capabilities Division. In this capacity, he conducts strategic analysis and management studies on homeland security, consequence management, homeland defense, civil support operations and reserve component force integration and modernization.
Education:
Virginia Tech, PH.D., 1980, Life sciences/Plant Pathology
Virginia Tech, M.S., 1973, Life sciences/Plant Pathology and Physiology
Virginia Tech, B.S., 1972, Life Sciences/Forestry Management
U.S. Army War College, 1993
Awards and Decorations:
U.S. Army Legion of Merit (2)
Dept. of Army Staff Badge
Numerous other awards from the Department of Defense, Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Defense Force and the U.S. State Guard Association
