Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight is the Adjutant General, Vermont National Guard, having been selected by the Vermont legislature in 2019. General Knight has 35 years of uniformed service, 22 years of commissioned service and 13 years of prior enlisted service. He started his enlisted career with the U.S. Coast Guard in October 1983, serving six years and separating from the service as a Yeoman Second Class (E-5) in October 1989. Following his service with the Coast Guard, General Knight pursued a career in Vermont law enforcement, serving four years as a Burlington Police Officer and seven years as the Chief Liquor Investigator with the Department of Liquor Control.
Concurrent with his law enforcement career, General Knight continued his military career as a traditional Guardsman, serving seven years with the Vermont Air National Guard as a Security Forces Specialist. General Knight joined the Vermont Army National Guard in 1997, obtaining his commission and serving three years as a traditional National Guard officer. General Knight was selected for Active Guard and Reserve duty in June of 2000, and served in this status until his election as Vermont Adjutant General.
COMMISIONING SOURCE:
1997, Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia
EDUCATIONAL DEGREES:
2001, Johnson State College, Bachelor of Arts, History, Johnson, Vermont
2015, Post University, Master of Education, Waterbury, Connecticut
2016, United States Navy War College, Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Newport, Rhode Island
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED:
2016, United States Navy War College, (in-residence), Newport, Rhode Island
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 24 August 1997
First Lieutenant 30 November 1999
Captain 7 February 2002
Major 28 August 2007
Lieutenant Colonel 6 April 2012
Colonel 1 May 2017
Brigadier General 8 March 2019
Major General 30 July 2020
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. August 1997 – May 1998, Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, 42nd Military Police Company, Montpelier, Vermont
2. May 1998 – May 2000, Tank Platoon Leader, Company C, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Morrisville, Vermont
3. June 2000 – May 2001, Battalion Support Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Squadron, 172nd Armor, St. Albans, Vermont
4. June 2001 – January 2005, Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Enosburg Falls, Vermont
5. January 2005 – January 2006, S-3 Air, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Ramadi, Iraq
6. January 2006 – June 2006, Task Force Battle Captain, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Ramadi, Iraq
7. June 2006 – June 2007, S3, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry, St. Albans, Vermont
8. June 2007 – September 2008, Battalion S3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB), 86th Brigade, Rutland, Vermont
9. September 2008 – September 2012, Commander, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Colchester, Vermont
10. October 2012 – July 2015, Deputy Commander, 124th Regiment Regional Training Institute (RTI), Colchester, Vermont
11. July 2015 – June 2016, Temporary TDA (Attending Naval War College), Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Army National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
12. July 2016 – May 2018, G1, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Army National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
13. May 2018 – February 2019, Commander, 124th Regiment Regional Training Institute (RTI), Colchester, Vermont
14. March 2019 – Present, Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters, Vermont Army National Guard, Colchester, Vermont
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:
1. January 2005 – January 2006, S-3 Air, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Ramadi, Iraq
2. January 2006 – June 2006, Task Force Battle Captain, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor, Ramadi, Iraq
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Coast Guard Achievement Medal
Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation
Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass and “M” device
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation
Basic Recruiting and Retention Badge
German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency - Gold
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:
Association of the United States Army
Cavalry and Armor Association
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 792, Montpelier, Vermont
American Legion Post #19, Bristol, Vermont
28th Infantry Division Association