Maj. Gen. Johnny K. Davis was commissioned from New Mexico Military Institute in 1989 through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps Early Commissioning Program and earned his Bachelor of Science from Cardinal Stritch University.
He began his career with the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. After the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, he served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as a Company Commander and Aide-de-Camp. After Fort Bragg, Davis was assigned to Fort Myer, Virginia, as the Commander of Delta Company, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard.” After attending the Command and General Staff College, Davis was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as a Battalion and Brigade Operations Officer and Brigade Executive Officer. He then served as the Aide to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Joint Staff J8 Capabilities Officer. Davis returned to Fort Campbell to command 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment and deployed to Afghanistan – Operation Enduring Freedom 10 as a Task Force Commander from 2010 to 2011.
Following command, Davis deployed to Iraq – Operation New Dawn and transitioned to the Pentagon, serving as Aide to the Army Vice Chief of Staff. Davis attended the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and followed with an assignment as the Director of the U.S. Wounded Warrior Program. In June 2014, Davis assumed command of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” at Fort Myer, Virginia. After command, Davis served in the Republic of Korea as the Executive Officer to the United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command / U.S. Forces Korea Commanding General. Following that, he served as Deputy Commanding General for Operations for the 25th Infantry Division. More recently, Davis served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command at Fort Bliss, Texas, from June 2018 to June 2020, Chief of Staff at U.S. Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas, from June 2020 to July 2021, and as Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, Kentucky from August 2021 to September 2022. He assumed command of U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Fort Knox, Kentucky, in October 2022.
His operational deployments include: Kuwait – Operation Southern Watch; Sinai, Egypt; Haiti; Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-06; Afghanistan – Operation Enduring Freedom 10-11; and Iraq Operation New Dawn 11. He has earned the Airborne Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Ranger Tab, as well as the Combat and Expert Infantryman’s Badge.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Valorous Unit Award.