U.S. Army Ret. Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré covered leadership, making good decisions in life and listing to parental advice in a speech to students Monday morning, January 30, at Istrouma High School.  He spoke to juniors and seniors, as well as the cadets participating in Istrouma High’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) – about 400 students total. 

In addition, he encouraged students’ parents to use a free tax preparation service for which many of them are eligible via Entergy Louisiana and the Capital Area United Way (call the information line 2-1-1).  Following the event, Honoré (pictured, center) met JROTC cadets like Diamond Fields, a senior (left), and Kierra Edwards, a junior (right).

Honoré is a native of Lakeland and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry and awarded a bachelor’s degree in Vocational Agriculture on graduation from Southern University and A&M College in 1971.  He also holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Troy State University, as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Southern University and A&M College, an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from Stillman College and Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters from Virginia State University, Stillman College, Loyola University, Virginia State University and Meharry Medical College.

Prior to his command of Joint Task Force-Katrina – leading the Department of Defense response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana – Honoré served in a variety of command and staff positions which focused on Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense. As vice director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., and as the commander, Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security, United States Northern Command, Honoré’s focus was Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense. For four of the past six hurricane seasons, he supported the U.S. Department of Defense planning and responses for hurricanes Floyd in 1999, Lilli and Isidore in 2002 (both hit the Gulf Coast), Isabel in 2003 and Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004.