Ira Charles Owens (born July 31, 1936) was an officer in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
. From October 1991 to February 1995, Owens, then a
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
, served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army.
Owens was born in
Cortez, Colorado
Cortez () is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 8,766 at the 2020 United States Census.
History
In 1886, the town was built t ...
. He is a 1954 graduate of Montrose High School in
Montrose, Colorado
Montrose is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 20,291 at the 2020 census, within a total area of 18.5 square miles. The main ...
, where he was known by his middle name Charles. Owens enlisted in the Army in 1956 and graduated from Artillery Officer Candidate School in 1960. He holds a B.A. degree in international relations from
Whittier College and an M.S. degree in public affairs from
Shippensburg State College
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship or SU) is a public university in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, it later became the first teachers college in Pennsylvania. ...
.
General Owens is a member of the
Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.
Awards and decorations
Owens' military awards included:
See also
References
1936 births
Living people
People from Cortez, Colorado
Military personnel from Colorado
United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Recipients of the Air Medal
Whittier College alumni
Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania alumni
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
United States Army generals
Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil)
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