Russell C. Davis was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, on October 22, 1938,[1] and graduated from Tuskegee Institute High School.[2] As recounted in a speech at Simpson College, Davis's great-great grandfather, a former slave, helped raise money to found what now is known as Tuskegee University. Davis's grandfather worked with George Washington Carver at Tuskegee, and Davis related that when he was a child attending a nursery school on campus, Carver was still a well-known figure at the school, the "tall man in a lab coat who gave us children candy."[3]
Upon release from active duty, Davis joined the 132nd Fighter Wing, Iowa Air National Guard in Des Moines. He served in numerous command and staff positions from squadron pilot to director of operations, and advanced through the ranks to colonel.[7]
In June, 1979 Davis was appointed as chief of manpower and personnel at the Air National Guard Support Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. From March 1980 to January 1982, he was executive officer to the director of the Air National Guard.[9]
From February 1982 to July 1990, he commanded the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, and he was promoted to brigadier general in December, 1982. Davis was the first African-American to become a general officer in the Air National Guard.[10]
In 1989 Davis graduated from the National and International Security Management Course at Harvard University.
Davis was the assistant for national guard matters for the commander of the Tactical Air Command from July, 1990 to December, 1991. He was promoted to major general in August, 1990.[11]
In December 1995 Davis was appointed Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau.[13] He held this post until August, 1998, when he was named chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to lieutenant general.[14] Davis was the first African-American to serve as NGB chief,[15] and he held the position until retiring on November 1, 2002.
At the time of his retirement, Davis was the last member of the U.S. Air Force Aviation Cadet program to still be serving on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.[16]
Retirement
Davis was active in several educational and civic endeavors, including serving as member of the Drake University board of trustees and president of National Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. He also works as a consultant in national securities, homeland security/defense, aviation operations and safety, training and development, equal opportunity and diversity and a wide variety of legal issues.[17]
↑ U.S. Department of Defense, Memorandum Number: No. 076-M, Announcement of Russell C. Davis Appointment as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau], March 23, 1995
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Lieutenant general 
