Colonel David W. Taylor was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 9 February 1968. His first duty assignment was as a Tactical Officer, 62nd Company (Officer Candidate), 6th Student Battalion, U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Rifle Platoon Leader, Company C, 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, 23d Division, Republic of Vietnam; Officer in Charge, Small Arms Training, 3d Individual Training Brigade, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; S-1, S-3, and Executive Officer, Company B, 2d Special Forces Battalion, 11th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Youngstown, Ohio; Special Operations Officer, (IMA) US Southern Command (Special Operations Division), Quarry Heights, Panama; Special Operations Officer, U.S. Army Reserve Augmentation, U.S. Forces Caribbean, Akron, Ohio; Chief, Unit Training Division, Headquarters, 83d U.S. Army Reserve Command, Columbus, Ohio; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff-Training, Headquarters, 83d U.S. Army Reserve Command, Columbus, Ohio; Commander, Assistant Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Reserve Augmentation, Akron, Ohio; and Chief of Staff, US Atlantic Command, Norfolk, Virginia; Commander, U.S. Army Reserve Augmentation (Assistant Chief of Staff on Mobilization), U.S. Atlantic Command. | Colonel Taylor is a graduate of the Officers Basic Advanced Course and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. | His awards and decorations include: the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Luster, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Services Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Reserve Service Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab and Parachutist Wings.