as evidenced by the assignments he's held..
http://www.leadingauthorities.com/23731/Wayne_Downing.htmsnip
General Wayne Downing served in a variety of command assignments in infantry, armored, special operations, and joint units, culminating in his appointment as the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command. He served two combat tours in Vietnam as a junior infantry officer.
As a general officer, Wayne Downing commanded the special operations of all services during the 1989 invasion of Panama and commanded a joint special operations task force operating deep behind the Iraqi lines during Operation DESERT STORM. Following retirement, General Wayne Downing was appointed by the President to assess the 1996 terrorist attack on the U.S. base at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and to make recommendations on how to protect Americans and U.S. facilities worldwide from terrorist attack.
From 1999-2000, General Wayne Downing was a member of the Congressionally mandated National Commission on Terrorism (the Bremer Commission) charged with examining the terrorist threat to the US, evaluating America's laws, policies, and practices for preventing and punishing terrorism directed at US citizens, and recommending corrective actions.
General Wayne Downing most recently served in the White House as National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism. As the President's principal advisor on matters related to combating terrorism, he was responsible for the close coordination among the military, diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement, information, and financial operations of our war on terror, and for developing and executing a strategy that integrated all elements of national power.
He was
lobbyist for Iraqi National Congress advocating for Ahmad Chalabi and also served on the board of the Committee for Liberation of Iraq. he is part of a corruption investigation into defense contracting - article here
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/03/Tampabay/FBI_takes_a_look_at_S.shtmlFBI takes a look at SOCom allegations
snip
According to the allegations, Holland, as SOCom commander, awarded $10-million in business to AeroVironment, which manufactures unmanned vehicles, or UAVs. Holland later went to work for the company, whose name was misspelled in the anonymous letter.
"Gen. Brown directed a UAV Program Office be formed at USSOCOM to make it easier for his buddy, Gen. Holland, to do business at USSOCOM," the letter said.
snip
In a separate allegation, the letter said Downing benefited from a $50-million SOCom contract to "Nevada Sierra Corporation," and said Downing served on the company's board of directors.
A public records search of the Sierra Nevada Corp., a defense electronics engineering and manufacturing firm, did not include Downing on the board. The company did not respond to a message seeking comment, and Downing could not be located.
Three weeks ago, after the Pentagon raised questions about SOCom's ability to wage the war on terror, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld appointed Downing to conduct an independent assessment.