Julius W. Becton, Jr.

Julius Wesley Becton, Jr. (born 29 June 1926) is a retired US Army General, former FEMA Director, and education administrator.

Becton was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Becton joined the Army Air Corps in July 1944 and graduated infantry Officer Candidate School in 1945. During his career in the Army, he served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant general. Among his decorations were the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, two Legion of Merit medals, and two Purple Hearts.

While in the service, Becton graduated from Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University (Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics in 1960), the University of Maryland (Master's Degree in Economics in 1966). He also graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College.

General Becton retired from the U.S. Army after nearly 40 years of service. However, his public service career was far from over. From 1984 to 1985, he served as the Director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance in the United States Agency for International Development (US AID). The then served as the Director of the FEMA from 1985 to 1989. During his tenure, he reestablished the agency's credibility that after the previous director's resignation.

In his mid-60s, General Becton began a new career, that of education administrator. From 1989 to 1994, Becton was the fifth president of Prairie View A&M University (his alma mater). President Becton was the first graduate of Prairie View A&M University to attain star rank in the military.

In 1996, he became the Superintendent of the Washington, D.C. public school system.

General Becton now serves as a director to several corporations, academic institutions, and associations. His many honors include being named several times by Ebony magazine as "One of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in America," and he has also received the Distinguished Service Award Association of the U.S. Army and the Boy Scouts of America's Silver Beaver.

General Becton and his wife Louise reside in Springfield, Va. The couple has five grown children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.