Walter E. Fountain

Walter E. Fountain (born November 7, 1961) is a retired United States Army officer who attained the rank of major general. In his final assignment, he served beginning in January 2018 as Director of Domestic Operations and Force Development at the National Guard Bureau. His previous assignments include Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters, Deputy Director for Domestic Operations (J-3) at United States Northern Command, Assistant Adjutant General of the Oklahoma National Guard, and acting Deputy Director of the Army National Guard.
Early life.
Walter Emery Fountain was born in Prague, Oklahoma, on November 7, 1961. He enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1980, and was trained as a UH-1 helicopter mechanic.
Start of military career.
In 1981 he completed Officer Candidate School and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry. Fountain later became qualified in the Aviation branch and advanced through several command and staff assignments. He became a full-time member of the National Guard in 1986. His command positions included: Company C, 1st Battalion 245th Aviation Regiment, Lexington, Oklahoma (1991–1994); Airfield, Headquarters, State Area Command, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1994–1996); Army Aviation Support Facility, Headquarters, State Area Command, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1996–1997); 1st Battalion, 245th Aviation, Tulsa, Oklahoma (2001–2003); and 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (2003–2005).
Fountain is a veteran of the Iraq War, having served as Chief of National Guard Affairs for Multi-National Corps – Iraq at Camp Victory, Baghdad from 2008 to 2009.
Career as a general officer.
In November, 2011 Fountain was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as the Oklahoma National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General – Army. He served in this position until July, 2012 when he was appointed a Special Assistant to the Director of the Army National Guard.
Fountain served as acting Deputy Director of the Army National Guard in 2013, following the departure of Timothy J. Kadavy for an assignment in Afghanistan and prior to the arrival of Kadavy’s replacement, Judd H. Lyons. He again acted as Deputy Director from January, 2014 to March, 2015, while Deputy Director Judd H. Lyons acted as Director of the Army National Guard. In June, 2015 Lyons was reassigned and Fountain again became acting Deputy Director, pending selection of permanent replacement.
In October, 2015 Fountain was assigned as deputy director for domestic operations (J-3) at United States Northern Command.
Fountain was assigned as Special Assistant to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to major general in October, 2016. In December, 2016 he was assigned as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters. In January 2018, he was assigned as Director of Domestic Operations and Force Development at the National Guard Bureau. He retired in 2020.
Education.
In 1996 Fountain completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Sciences at Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey. He received a Master of Science degree in Natural and Applied Sciences from Oklahoma State University in 1998. In 2002 Fountain graduated from the United States Army War College with a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies.
In addition to the Army War College, Fountain’s military education includes: the Infantry Officer Basic Course; Aviation Officer Advanced Course; Air Assault School; Airborne School; United States Army Command and General Staff College; Joint Air Command and Control Course; Joint and Combined Warfighting Course; and Joint Task Force Commanders Course.
Fountain has also completed executive-level seminars and similar education, to include: Level IV Antiterrorism Executive Seminar; General Officer/Senior Executive Service Force Integration Course; National Security Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University; and George C. Marshall Center Senior Executive Seminar, Central Asia After ISAF Transition.
Family.
Fountain has been married to the former Elizabeth Ann Thompson since 2007. Mrs. Fountain graduated from Oklahoma State University, where she was a sorority sister of Governor Mary Fallin.