Brigadier General John R. Evans, Jr. is a 1988 Distinguished Military Graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation Branch.
His duty assignments include:
- Apache Platoon Leader, Assistant S-3 and Regimental Aviation Liaison Officer with the 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC
- Commander, B Company, 3-229th Attack Helicopter Battalion at Fort Bragg, NC
- Battalion Flight Operations Officer, Platoon Leader, Battalion Operations Officer, and Company Commander, 1st Bn., 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.
- Regiment S-3, 160th SOAR; Battalion Commander, 2nd BN 160th SOAR (A); Commander, Regiment Operational Assessment Element (ROAE); and Deputy Commander, 160th SOAR (A).
- Regimental Commander, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.
- Senior Army Fellow to the Chief of Staff, United States Army at Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.
- Deputy Commanding General (Support), 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division, Republic of Korea.
COL Evans' military education includes the U.S. Naval War College, Army Command and General Staff College and the Armor Advanced Course, Combined Armed Services and Staff School, Aviation Officer Basic Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course (High Risk), Airborne School, and the Air Assault School.
He holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education from Kansas State University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
A Special Operations Master Aviator with over 14 years of service in the 160th, COL Evans' awards and decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with numeral two and "V" device, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Aviator Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Canadian Airborne Badge.
He is married to the former Carolyn Ruppel of Nashville, TN. They have two daughters, Annabelle and Addison.