MG David W. Gardner, Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) & Fort Campbell
Major General David W. Gardner assumed command of the historic 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in May 2025. Since graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1994, he has served in a variety of maneuver assignments.
Until 1998, Major General Gardner served as an Infantry Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, Headquarters Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Logistics Officer in the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment in the 82d Airborne Division. Upon graduation from the Field Artillery Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment in the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) where he commanded in Kosovo and in the invasion of Iraq.
Beginning in 2008, Major General Gardner served as a Battalion Executive Officer, Brigade Operations Officer, and Brigade Executive Officer in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, before assuming command of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He deployed that battalion to Afghanistan in 2012 under the 1st Infantry Division in Regional Command-East. Major General Gardner then commanded the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from 2016 to 2018 and deployed with that command to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve. After commanding the Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center from 2018 to 2020, Major General Gardner was the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command until the summer of 2022. He returned to JRTC and served as the Commanding General from 2022 to 2024.
Major General Gardner’s non-troop assignments include: Strategist on the Army Staff; Division Future Operations Lead Planner; Military Assistant to the Commander, International Security and Assistance Force/US Forces, Afghanistan; Instructor at the School of Advanced Military Studies, and U.S. Army Forces Command Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7.
Major General Gardner holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and Masters Degrees in Public Administration, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, and Military Art and Science.
Major General Gardner’s awards and decorations include the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals (with 6 Campaign Stars), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Master Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault and Pathfinder Badges, Ranger Tab, and Master Parachutist Badge.