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Howard W. Penney

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Howard W. Penney
Official portrait of Lieutenant General Penney
BornDecember 5, 1918
DiedJune 25, 2004(2004-06-25) (aged 85)[1]
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Lieutenant General
Awards
  • Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
  • Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
  • Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf Cluster
  • Army Commendation Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
  • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
  • American Campaign Medal
  • American Defense Service Medal
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • Army Occupation Medal (Japan)
  • Philippine Liberation Ribbon
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
  • Republic of Vietnam Service Medal
  • Vietnamese Service Medal
  • General Staff Identification Badge
  • Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Badge

Lieutenant General Howard W. Penney (December 5, 1918 – June 25, 2004) of United States Army, was first director of Defense Mapping Agency from July 1972 to August 1974. Under Penney's leadership, the new agency focused its assets into a decentralized structure with a lean staff to respond to the rising demands for geographic information by a variety of military users.

Early life, and education

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Lieutenant General Penney attended the University of Detroit, and graduated with a BS from the United States Military Academy in 1940. He earned an MS in civil engineering at Texas A&M University in June 1949. He completed the United States Army Command and General Staff College in June 1952, and the National War College in June 1959.[2]

Defense Mapping Agency

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In response to President Nixon’s directive of July 1971, Lieutenant General Penney consolidated the Department of Defense's military mapping, charting and geodesy (MC&G) activities and created DMA. Under his leadership from July 1972 to August 1974, the new agency focused these assets into a decentralized structure with a very lean staff to respond to the high demands for geographic information by military users.[3]

Awards, and decorations

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In 2001 Lt. Gen. Penney was inducted into the inaugural class of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Hall of Fame, where he is credited for "helping the military overcome doubts as to whether or not DMA could meet their needs."[3] His military decorations and awards include:[2]

References

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Citations

  1. ^ Howard W. Penney's obituary
  2. ^ a b "Historical Handbook of NGA Leaders" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists. Office of Corporate Communications.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b "Lt. Gen. Howard W. Penney". www.nga.mil.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

Sources