General Frank J. Grass was confirmed by the US Senate as the next Chief of the National Guard Bureau on 27 July 2012. He does not appear to have any combat experience.
General Frank J. Grass was previously the Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command, and Vice Commander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command (USELEMNORAD) at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
As Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command, General Grass helped lead the command to anticipate, prepare and respond to threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility, and as directed by the President or Secretary of Defense, provided Defense Support of Civil Authorities, including consequence management operations.
General Grass enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969. He attended the Missouri Army National Guard Military Academy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in the Engineer Corps in 1981. He has served in a variety of command and staff positions as a traditional National Guard Soldier, in the Active Guard and Reserve program, and on active duty. In his first general officer assignment, he served as Deputy Director of the Army National Guard in Arlington, Virginia.
General Grass previously served as Director of Operations, United States Northern Command. As Director of Operations, he was the principal advisor to the Commander on all operational matters, providing strategic guidance to plan and execute United States Northern Command missions within the area of responsibility; including air, land, maritime, ballistic missile defense and cyber homeland defense operations as well as Defense support of civil authorities.
EDUCATION:
1975 St. Louis Community College, Associates Degree, Environmental Technology, St Louis, Missouri
1985 Metropolitan State University, Bachelor of Science, Liberal Arts, St Paul, Minnesota
1997 Missouri State University, Master of Science, Resource Planning, Springfield, Missouri
2000 National War College, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2006 National Defense University, CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. September 1981 - October 1981, Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, 220th Engineer Company, Festus, Missouri
2. October 1981 - February 1982, Student, Engineer Officer Basic Course, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
3. February 1982 - January 1984, Project Officer, United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, St. Paul, Minnesota
4. January 1984 - November 1984, Platoon Leader, Company D, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington
5. November 1984 - May 1985, Executive Officer, Company D, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington
6. May 1985 - January 1986, Battalion Motor Officer, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington
7. January 1986 - February 1986, United States Army Reserve Control Group, Unassigned, St. Louis, Missouri
8. February 1986 - July 1986, S4, 880th Engineer Battalion, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
9. July 1986 - July 1988, Commander, 220th Engineer Company, Festus, Missouri
10. July 1988 - July 1988, Civil Engineer, 35th Engineer Brigade, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
11. July 1988 - July 1991, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
12. July 1991 - June 1992, Student, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
13. June 1992 - July 1994, Engineer Exercise Project Officer, Headquarters, US Army South, Fort Clayton, Panama
14. July 1994 - July 1997, Chief, Exercise Section, Exercise Branch, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia
15. July 1997 - July 1999, Commander, 203d Engineer Battalion, Joplin, Missouri
16. July 1999 - June 2000, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
17. June 2000 - September 2003, Chief, Operations Division, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia
18. September 2003 - April 2004, G-3, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia
19. April 2004 - May 2006, Deputy Director, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia
20. May 2006 - September 2008, Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
21. September 2008 - September 2010, Director of Operations, United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
22. September 2010 - 2012, Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
27 July 2012: Confirmed to Chief of National Guard Bureau
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Superior Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass Device)
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Superior Unit Award
Parachutist Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:
National Guard Association of the US ( Life Member)
National Guard Association of Missouri (Life Member)
Society of American Military Engineers (Life Member)
Association of the United States Army (Life Member)
National War College Alumni Association (Life Member)
Missouri State University Alumni
Metropolitan State University Alumni
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
The Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal, The Army Engineer Association
Missouri Conspicuous Service Medal, Missouri National Guard
Honorable Order of St Barbara, United States Field Artillery Association
Distinguished Service Medal, National Guard Association of the United States
Washington Army National Guard Legion of Merit, State of Washington
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:
Second Lieutenant ARNG 12 September 1981
First Lieutenant USA 19 April 1983
Captain USA 01July 1985
Major ARNG 04 August 1990
Lieutenant
Colonel ARNG 07 February 1995
Colonel ARNG 31 May 2000
Brigadier General
(LINE) ARNG 02 April 2004
Major General (LINE) ARNG 22 June 2006
Lieutenant General (LINE) ARNG 30 September 2010