Frank J. Grass

Last updated
Frank J. Grass
General Frank J. Grass 2016.jpg
Official portrait, 2016
Born (1951-05-19) May 19, 1951 (age 72)
Arnold, Missouri, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Army National Guard
Years of service1969–2016
Rank General
Unit National Guard Bureau
Commands held Chief of the National Guard Bureau
203rd Engineer Battalion
220th Engineer Company
Battles/wars War on terror
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit

Frank J. Grass (born May 19, 1951) is a retired United States Army general who served as the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Contents

Early life and education

A native of Arnold, Missouri, [1] Grass was born on May 19, 1951, [2] [3] [4] and graduated from Arnold's Fox High School in 1969. [5] He joined the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969, [6] and served as an enlisted soldier and noncommissioned officer before graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1981 and receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. [7]

Military career

While serving as a traditional member of the Army National Guard, Grass pursued a civilian career with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. [8] Grass served in a variety of command and staff positions, first as a traditional Army Guardsman, and later as a member of the Active Guard and Reserve program and on active duty. His command assignments included the 220th Engineer Company (1986 to 1988) and the 203rd Engineer Battalion (1997 to 1999). [9]

After becoming a general officer in 2004, Grass' assignments included: Deputy Director, Army National Guard (2004 to 2006); Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters, United States European Command (2006 to 2008); Director of Operations, United States Northern Command (2008 to 2010); and Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command (2010 to 2012). [10]

In June 2012, Grass was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Chief of the National Guard Bureau, with appointment to the rank of general in the reserves of the army. The appointment and promotion were confirmed by the United States Senate on July 26, 2012. [11] Grass formally took over the National Guard Bureau in a ceremony on September 7, 2012. [12] [13] In 2016, the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Joseph L. Lengyel, was nominated to succeed Grass. Lengyel was promoted to general and completed a transfer of authority ceremony with Grass on August 3, 2016. [14]

Education

Awards and decorations

Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Superior Unit Award ribbon.svg Army Superior Unit Award
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Reserve Achievement ribbon.svg
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal ribbon.svg Hourglass Device Gold.svg Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold Hourglass device
NCO Professional Development Ribbon.svg Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 2.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2
Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon.svg Award numeral 2.png Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 2
Noribbon.svg Danish Home Guard Meritorious Service Medal
Missouri Conspicuous Service Medal.svg Missouri Conspicuous Service Medal, Missouri National Guard
WALOM.jpg Washington Army National Guard Legion of Merit, State of Washington [16]

Other achievements

Chronological list of officer assignments

Effective dates of promotions

Promotions
InsigniaRankDate
US-OF1B.svg Second Lieutenant September 12, 1981
US-OF1A.svg First Lieutenant April 19, 1983
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain July 1, 1985
US-O4 insignia.svg Major August 4, 1990
US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant Colonel February 7, 1995
US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel May 31, 2000
US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier General April 2, 2004
US-O8 insignia.svg Major General June 22, 2006
US-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant General  September 30, 2010 [20]
US-O10 insignia.svg General  September 7, 2012

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">89th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 89th Infantry Division, originally known as the "89th Division," was an infantry formation of the United States Army that was active during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael D. Maples</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General Michael David Maples, USA served as the 16th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), appointed on November 4, 2005. He was promoted to lieutenant general on November 29. Maples also commanded the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) for the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). He transferred his Directorship of the Defense Intelligence Agency and his command of JFCC-ISR to LTG Ronald Burgess on March 18, 2009. Maples formally served as the vice director of management of the Joint Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond F. Rees</span> United States Army general

Major General Raymond F. Rees was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Training, Readiness and Mobilization from 2014 to 2019. He was appointed to that position as a career member of the Senior Executive Service on February 10, 2014. He is also a retired United States Army major general who served as the adjutant general of Oregon and was director of the Army National Guard and acting chief of the National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief of the National Guard Bureau</span> US general officer who is the highest-ranking officer of the United States National Guard

The chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) is the highest-ranking officer of the National Guard and the head of the National Guard Bureau. The position is a statutory office, held by a federally recognized commissioned officer who has served at least 10 years of federally recognized active duty in the National Guard; the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard. In a separate capacity as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief is a military adviser to the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the president on matters pertaining to the National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig R. McKinley</span> US Air Force general

Craig Richard McKinley is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 26th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, serving from 2008 to 2012. He is the first officer from the National Guard to achieve the grade of a four-star general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William E. Ingram Jr.</span> United States general

Lieutenant General William E. Ingram Jr. is a retired United States Army officer who served as the Director of the Army National Guard. He was the 20th individual and the third three-star general to lead the Army National Guard since 1948, when the office was established as Chief, Army Division, National Guard Bureau. In this assignment Ingram guided the formulation, development and implementation of all programs and policies affecting the Army National Guard, a force of more than 350,000 citizen soldiers in the 50 States, three Territories and the District of Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert R. Temple Jr.</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General Herbert R. Temple Jr. is a career military officer who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth F. Cramer</span> United States Army general (1894–1954)

Kenneth F. Cramer was an American politician and United States Army major general who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clyde A. Vaughn</span> United States Army general

Clyde A. Vaughn is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General who served as Director of the Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond W. Carpenter</span> United States Army general

Raymond W. Carpenter is a retired United States Army major general who served as acting Director of the Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael J. Squier</span> United States Army general

Michael J. Squier is a retired United States Army Brigadier General who served as Deputy Director of the Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy J. Kadavy</span>

Timothy James Kadavy is a retired United States Army lieutenant general, who served as the 20th director of the Army National Guard from March 27, 2015, to March 25, 2019. He previously served as the special assistant to the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, deputy director of the Army National Guard, and as the commander of Combined Joint Inter Agency Task Force-Afghanistan, which was part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force mission in that country. Kadavy was nominated by the President to become the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau with the rank of lieutenant general, on March 5, 2019. The Senate returned his nomination to the president without action on January 3, 2020. After leaving his assignment as the director of the Army National Guard, he served as a two-star special assistant to the chief of the National Guard Bureau from May 23, 2019, until his retirement on August 3, 2020. He retired from the Army with the rank of lieutenant general after over 36 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James W. Nuttall</span> United States Army general

James W. Nuttall is a retired United States Army major general who served as deputy director of the Army National Guard and deputy commander of the United States First Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judd H. Lyons</span>

Judd Henry Lyons is a retired Army National Guard officer. After retiring from the military the rank of major general, he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service on August 7, 2017. Since 2018, he has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. In this role, he is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in support of the ASD's role of providing overall supervision of manpower and reserve affairs for the Department of Defense. He is responsible for both the integration of reserve affairs across the United States Department of Defense and strategic engagement on all Reserve Component matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter E. Fountain</span> United States Army officer

Walter E. Fountain is a retired United States Army officer who attained the rank of major general. In his final assignment, he served beginning in January 2018 as Director of Domestic Operations and Force Development at the National Guard Bureau. His previous assignments include Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters, Deputy Director for Domestic Operations (J-3) at United States Northern Command, Assistant Adjutant General of the Oklahoma National Guard, and acting Deputy Director of the Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel R. Hokanson</span> US Army general (born 1963)

Daniel Robert Hokanson is a four-star general in the United States Army who currently serves as the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau. He previously served as the 21st director of the Army National Guard. His previous military assignments include serving as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, deputy commander of United States Northern Command, adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard, and commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Just Cause. Hokanson assumed his current assignment on 3 August 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph L. Lengyel</span> US Air Force general

Joseph Lauren Lengyel is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau from August 2016 to August 2020. As chief, he was responsible for ensuring that nearly 460,000 Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel are accessible, capable and ready to protect the homeland and to provide combat capabilities to the United States Army and the United States Air Force. Lengyel is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours primarily in the F-16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry E. Miller Jr.</span> United States Army general

Harry E. Miller Jr. is a retired Army National Guard officer. A veteran of the Iraq War, he attained the rank of major general as commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, a position he held from 2013 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher E. Finerty</span> US Air Force officer (born c. 1970)

Major General Christopher Finerty is a United States Air Force officer and career helicopter pilot who served as the Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force from 2019 to 2023. The Directorate is the liaison between the Air Force, Space Force and Congress on all programs, air and space weapons systems and issues such as legislative and constituent inquiries. Finerty collaborates directly with the House of Representatives and Senate to ensure full authorization of the Air Force's annual budget. Finerty also prepares the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Chief of Space Operations and other senior Air Force leaders for engagements and testimony on Capitol Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff W. Mathis III</span> US Army major general

Jeff W. Mathis III was a career officer in the United States Army. A longtime member of the Army National Guard, Mathis attained the rank of major general before retiring in 2014. A veteran of overseas deployment to Africa during the Global War on Terrorism, he was most notable for high profile command assignments including Joint Task Force – Civil Support (2012-2014) and I Corps (2009-2010).

References

  1. ↑ Military Salute: Grass, Roth, Morse, Potter, Suburban Journals, St. Louis Today, October 19, 2010.
  2. ↑ U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Nomination of Frank J. Grass, 2012, page 681
  3. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, entry for Frank J. Grass, Volume 1, accessed December 30, 2012.
  4. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, entry for Frank J. Grass, Volume 2, accessed December 30, 2012.
  5. ↑ Fox High School, Yearbook, 1969, page 164.
  6. ↑ U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine , USNORTHCOM Deputy Receives Third Star, U.S. Northern Command News Web Site, October 4, 2010.
  7. ↑ National Guard Association of the United States Archived 2013-04-15 at archive.today , Guardsman Nominated for NORTHCOM Post, published on National Guard Association of Michigan web site, September 28, 2010.
  8. ↑ National Guard Association of the United States, Senate Quickly Confirms New Bureau Leaders, National Guard magazine, August 2012, page 14.
  9. ↑ Association of Military Comptrollers Archived 2013-10-15 at the Wayback Machine , Professional Development Conference Program, 2006, pages 18–19.
  10. ↑ National Guard Bureau Archived 2012-07-05 at the Wayback Machine , Biography, General Frank J. Grass, 2012.
  11. ↑ United States Senate Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , Senate Floor Log, July 26, 2012.
  12. ↑ Army Times, General to Take Top Guard Job, Get 4th Star, September 5, 2012.
  13. ↑ U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, Panetta Hosts Chief Change For National Guard Bureau Archived 2013-04-15 at the Wayback Machine , Department of Defense Photo Essay, September 7, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to Host Change of Responsibility Ceremony for National Guard Bureau" (Press release). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Defense. Press Operations. August 2, 2016.
  15. ↑ U.S. Northern Command Archived 2012-07-18 at the Wayback Machine , Biography, General Frank J. Grass, 2010.
  16. ↑ Biography, General Frank J. Grass [ permanent dead link ], 2012.
  17. ↑ General Frank J. Grass presented with Danish award.
  18. ↑ National Guard Bureau Biography.
  19. ↑ "AirForce" . Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  20. ↑ U.S. Northern Command Biography
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the United States Northern Command
2010–2012		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the National Guard Bureau
2012–2016		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.