As a Lieutenant General in 1983 , he was assigned as Director of the Army Staff , and oversaw the greatest modernization program since World War II . This included the transition to the M1 Abrams , the M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle , UH-60 Blackhawk , AH-64 Apache , and the creation or transition to four light infantry divisions : the 6th , 7th , 10th and 25th Infantry Divisions . He also managed the staff reorganization mandated by the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 and served as a member of the Stilwell Commission on security . He was also responsible for providing guidance on public affairs matters during a time which saw the Gander aircraft disaster and Operation Urgent Fury . For his work as the Director of the Army Staff , he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Gander aircraft disaster
Arrow Air Flight 1285
Arthur E. Brown Jr.