Major General Danner enlisted in the Regular Army in 1972 and served as a combat engineer, with the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. He joined the Missouri National Guard as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 1981 serving in the 135th Field Artillery Brigade, 70th Troop Command, 35th Engineer Brigade and Joint Force Headquarters. Major General Danner also held several other military assignments including Deputy Chief of Staff, Commander of the 140th Regiment (Regional Training Institute-Missouri) and Assistant Adjutant General-Army. Major General Danner deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 35th Area Support Group from May 2005 to January 2007. He was appointed by Governor Nixon and confirmed by the Missouri State Senate as Adjutant General in January 2009.
Major General Danner has received several military awards including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Medal with Two Bronze Service Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Missouri Meritorious and Conspicuous Service Medals, and the Combat Action Badge. He is also a recipient of the Mel Carnahan Public Service Award from the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri.
Major General Danner has four children and three grandchildren. He resides with his wife, Kathleen Steele Danner, in Jefferson City, Missouri.