| Howard W. Penney | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait of Lieutenant General Penney | |
| Born | December 5, 1918 |
| Died | June 25, 2004(2004-06-25) (aged 85) |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Awards |
|
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
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.
Defense Mapping Agency
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.
Awards, and decorations
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." His military decorations and awards include:
- 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
References
Citations
- Howard W. Penney's obituary
- ^ "Historical Handbook of NGA Leaders" (PDF). Federation of American Scientists. Office of Corporate Communications.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Lt. Gen. Howard W. Penney". www.nga.mil. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Sources
- United States Defense Mapping Agency (1982). MC&G: Mapping--Charting--Geodesy: a Brief History of U.S. Military Mapmaking, and the First Decade of the Defense Mapping Agency. Washington, D.C.: Defense Mapping Agency. OCLC 784684004.
| National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency leaders | |
|---|---|
| Directors of NPIC | |
| Directors of DMA | |
| Directors of NIMA/NGA | |
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency leaders
- United States Military Academy alumni
- Texas A&M University alumni
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- National War College alumni
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- 1918 births
- 2004 deaths