Effingham County native Col. Lawrence (Larry) E. Dudney Jr., director of the Joint Staff, was promoted to brigadier general at the change of command ceremony of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Macon.
Dudney is the son of Lawrence and Barbara Dudney of Guyton and graduated from Effingham County High School in 1975.
Dudney began his military career as an enlisted soldier with the Georgia Army National Guard in 1977. He was a cannon fire direction specialist with Battery C, 2/214th Field Artillery Battalion. Dudney was later commissioned a second lieutenant in field artillery from Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning.
He served in several leadership and staff positions in the 2/214 Field Artillery Battalion to include Headquarters Battery and Charlie Battery commander. In November 1990, he volunteered to join the 1/230 Field Artillery Battalion that was mobilized with the 48th Infantry Brigade for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During mobilization he served as the assistant brigade fire support officer.
After mobilization, he remained in the 48th Brigade and served as a battalion fire support officer and brigade fire support officer. Dudney also commanded the 1/214 Field Artillery Battalion and the 1/118 Field Artillery Battalion.
After battalion commands, he was selected to attend the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Penn. Upon graduating from the Army War College in 2000, he served a six-month tour at the National Guard Bureau working as strategic planner for the director of the Army National Guard. In December 2000, Dudney was accessed into the Title X program and the assigned to Headquarters, Department of the Army, working in the Office of the deputy chief of staff for programs (G8) in the Army Quadrennial Defense Review Office.
He was working at the Pentagon when it was struck by an aircraft during the terrorist attacks of 9/11. He spent several hours after the attack evacuating the wounded and leading occupants of the building to safety.
In April 2002, Dudney reported to Korea and was assigned as the senior Army National Guard Advisor for U.S. Forces Korea and 8th United States Army located in Yongsan Garrison, Korea. Following his tour in Korea, Dudney returned to Georgia and was assigned as the deputy commander for the 48th Infantry Brigade and deployed with the brigade for Operation Iraqi Freedom 3.5 from December 2004 to May 2006.
On Nov. 1, 2006, Dudney assumed command of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (L).
He is a graduate of the Army War College, Army Command and General Staff College, Army Force Management School, National Security Leadership course, Infantry and Filed Artillery Pre-Command courses, and the Field Artillery Basic and Advanced courses. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Georgia Southern University, a master’s degree from Georgia College and State University in educational administration and supervision, a master’s degree in public administration from Shippensburg University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Army War College.
Some of Dudney’s awards and decorations include the Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (fourth award), Army Commendation Medal (third award), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (one Bronze Star), Southwest Asia Service Medal (one Bronze Star), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Government of Kuwait), Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Canadian Parachutist Badge.
He is a member of the Honorable and Ancient Orders of St. Barbara and a recipient of the Order of St. Maurice. Dudney has also received the Valley Forge Cross of Heroism from the National Guard Association of the United States for his actions on 9/11. In 2003 Dudney was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning.
He has also received the Legion of Merit Award.
