Richard C. Nash
Encyclopedia
Major General
Richard C. Nash (1950 - ) is the current Adjutant General
of the Minnesota National Guard
, having been appointed to that position by the Governor of Minnesota
in 2010. Nash has previously served as Commanding General of both US Army and multi-national forces including the US Army's 34th Infantry Division, the Multi-National Division-South during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Multi-National Brigade-North
(SFOR-14) in Bosnia Herzegovina during Operation Joint Forge.
His prior positions also include Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD), United States Northern Command
, and Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) for the 34th Infantry Division in Iraq
.
degree in Health, Biology and Physical Education from Mankato State University
in 1972. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College and the United States Army Infantry School
's Basic and Advanced Infantry Officer Courses.
on April 11, 1976. His first assignment was as a communications platoon leader
, Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division, in Stillwater, Minnesota
.
He then served with 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, in Rochester, Minnesota. There he served as a platoon leader and detachment commander for Company C, Battalion S-2 and Battalion S-4. Following his attendance at the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Nash assumed command
of Company C, 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, and later moved on to serve as the battalion's operations officer (S-3)
. He continued in the operations officer role when he was transferred to 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division in 1989.
In 1991, Lt. Col. Nash returned to the 135th Infantry Regiment, but this time to the 2nd Battalion as battalion commander. Upon his promotion to colonel
, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, out of Stillwater, Minnesota, until 1999, when he became the director of facility management at Little Falls, Minnesota.
On October 1, 2000, Nash was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
and was promoted to Assistant Division Commander (maneuver) of the 34th Infantry Division. From June 2003 to April 2004, Nash served as commanding general of the Multi-National Brigade (North)
(SFOR-14) during Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia Herzegovina, and upon his return to the United States, he resumed his position as Assistant Division Commander for the 34th Infantry Division.
On June 22, 2004, Nash received his second star. Along with this promotion to the rank of Major General
, Nash was appointed to serve as Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD) and United States Northern Command
(NORTHCOM) and the command's National Guard Liaison.
In 2007, Maj. Gen. Nash returned to the 34th Infantry Division, this time to serve as the division's commanding general. Two years later, in February 2009, the division deployed for a year long tour of duty in Iraq
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Nash assumed command of the Multi-National Division South (MND-South) (also known as Task Force Mountain), based at Combat Operating Base Basra. The forces of MND-South primarily consisted of Iraqi Security Forces supported by the US Army's 34th Infantry Division. The primary mission of MND-South was to assist and support Iraqi security forces with security and stability missions in the area south of Baghdad
ranging from Najaf
to Wasit provinces extending south to Basra
. Due to the departure of British
and Polish forces from adjoining regions, General Nash's MND-South was responsible for a much larger area of operations than previous forces stationed in the Basra region. The withdrawal of the Polish forces that had led the Multi-National Division Central-South (MND-Central South) forced the U.S. led Multi-National Division Center (MND-Center) to shift into areas formerly controlled by MND-Central South, leaving General Nash's MND-South responsible for much of the area south of Baghdad that had previously been under the control of MND-Center. Then, as British forces prepared to depart from Iraq, on March 31, 2009, MND-South assumed responsibility for additional areas that had been controlled by the British-led Multi-National Division South East (MND-South East). After a highly successful deployment, the 34th Infantry Division returned to the United States in February 2010.
Major General Nash remained commander of of the 34th Infantry Division until November 2010, when Minnesota
Governor
Tim Pawlenty
appointed him as Adjutant General
of the Minnesota National Guard
. As Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Nash oversees the entire forces of the state's Army
and Air National Guard
units, which include the 34th Infantry Division, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, 133rd Airlift Wing, 148th Fighter Wing
, 84th Troop Command, 347th Regional Support Group, 175th Regiment Regional Training Center, and the Camp Ripley Training Center, in addition to numerous smaller and subordinate units. As Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Nash is administrative head of the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs and he oversees the day-to-day operation and management of the fiscal, personnel, equipment and real property resources of the Minnesota National Guard and Minnesota Deapartment of Military Affairs.
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U.S. Badges and Patches
Expert Infantryman Badge
Air Assault Badge
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Richard C. Nash (1950 - ) is the current Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
, having been appointed to that position by the Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
in 2010. Nash has previously served as Commanding General of both US Army and multi-national forces including the US Army's 34th Infantry Division, the Multi-National Division-South during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Multi-National Brigade-North
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
(SFOR-14) in Bosnia Herzegovina during Operation Joint Forge.
His prior positions also include Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(NORAD), United States Northern Command
United States Northern Command
United States Northern Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States military. Created on 1 October 2002 in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities...
, and Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) for the 34th Infantry Division in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Education
Nash received a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Health, Biology and Physical Education from Mankato State University
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato is a public four-year university located in Mankato, Minnesota, a community of 53,000 located southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. As of Fall 2011, the student body is the third-largest in the state of Minnesota with over 15,000 students...
in 1972. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College and the United States Army Infantry School
United States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...
's Basic and Advanced Infantry Officer Courses.
Personal History
Born in Minnesota on September 10, 1950, Nash spent his civilian career in construction management, working in executive positions at Hanson Spancrete Midwest, Maple Grove, and Fabcon, Inc. Major General Nash retired from Hanson Spancrete Midwest as the vice president in 2004 in order to devote more time to his military responsibilities.Military career
Nash was drafted into the Army July 16, 1972, and after graduating from Mankato State University, he received his commission as a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on April 11, 1976. His first assignment was as a communications platoon leader
Platoon leader
A platoon leader or platoon commander is the officer in command of a platoon. This person is usually a junior officer — a second or first lieutenant, or an equivalent rank. The officer is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant...
, Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division, in Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
.
He then served with 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, in Rochester, Minnesota. There he served as a platoon leader and detachment commander for Company C, Battalion S-2 and Battalion S-4. Following his attendance at the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Nash assumed command
Company Commander
A company commander is the commanding officer of a company, a military unit which typically consists of 100 to 350 soldiers, often organized into three or four smaller units called platoons....
of Company C, 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, and later moved on to serve as the battalion's operations officer (S-3)
Operations (military staff)
Military Operations is a concept and application of military science that involves planning the operations for the projected maneuvering forces's provisions, services, training, and administrative functions—to allow them to commence, insert, then egress from combat...
. He continued in the operations officer role when he was transferred to 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division in 1989.
In 1991, Lt. Col. Nash returned to the 135th Infantry Regiment, but this time to the 2nd Battalion as battalion commander. Upon his promotion to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, out of Stillwater, Minnesota, until 1999, when he became the director of facility management at Little Falls, Minnesota.
On October 1, 2000, Nash was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and was promoted to Assistant Division Commander (maneuver) of the 34th Infantry Division. From June 2003 to April 2004, Nash served as commanding general of the Multi-National Brigade (North)
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
(SFOR-14) during Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia Herzegovina, and upon his return to the United States, he resumed his position as Assistant Division Commander for the 34th Infantry Division.
On June 22, 2004, Nash received his second star. Along with this promotion to the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, Nash was appointed to serve as Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(NORAD) and United States Northern Command
United States Northern Command
United States Northern Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States military. Created on 1 October 2002 in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities...
(NORTHCOM) and the command's National Guard Liaison.
In 2007, Maj. Gen. Nash returned to the 34th Infantry Division, this time to serve as the division's commanding general. Two years later, in February 2009, the division deployed for a year long tour of duty in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Nash assumed command of the Multi-National Division South (MND-South) (also known as Task Force Mountain), based at Combat Operating Base Basra. The forces of MND-South primarily consisted of Iraqi Security Forces supported by the US Army's 34th Infantry Division. The primary mission of MND-South was to assist and support Iraqi security forces with security and stability missions in the area south of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
ranging from Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
to Wasit provinces extending south to Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
. Due to the departure of British
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and Polish forces from adjoining regions, General Nash's MND-South was responsible for a much larger area of operations than previous forces stationed in the Basra region. The withdrawal of the Polish forces that had led the Multi-National Division Central-South (MND-Central South) forced the U.S. led Multi-National Division Center (MND-Center) to shift into areas formerly controlled by MND-Central South, leaving General Nash's MND-South responsible for much of the area south of Baghdad that had previously been under the control of MND-Center. Then, as British forces prepared to depart from Iraq, on March 31, 2009, MND-South assumed responsibility for additional areas that had been controlled by the British-led Multi-National Division South East (MND-South East). After a highly successful deployment, the 34th Infantry Division returned to the United States in February 2010.
Major General Nash remained commander of of the 34th Infantry Division until November 2010, when Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
Governor
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
appointed him as Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
. As Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Nash oversees the entire forces of the state's Army
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
and Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
units, which include the 34th Infantry Division, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, 133rd Airlift Wing, 148th Fighter Wing
148th Fighter Wing
The 148th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Minnesota National Guard based at Duluth International Airport. It falls under 1st Air Force and Air Combat Command...
, 84th Troop Command, 347th Regional Support Group, 175th Regiment Regional Training Center, and the Camp Ripley Training Center, in addition to numerous smaller and subordinate units. As Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Nash is administrative head of the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs and he oversees the day-to-day operation and management of the fiscal, personnel, equipment and real property resources of the Minnesota National Guard and Minnesota Deapartment of Military Affairs.
Promotions
| Rank | Date Of Appointment |
|---|---|
 2LT |
11 April 1976 |
 1LT |
10 April 1979 |
 CPT |
26 May 1982 |
 MAJ |
19 March 1987 |
 LTC |
4 December 1991 |
 COL |
2 March 1998 |
 BG |
1 October 2000 |
 MG |
22 June 2004 |
Decorations and badges
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| U.S. military decorations | |
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Army Distinguished Service Medal |
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Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."... |
| Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... (with 1 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Oak leaf cluster An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration... ) |
|
| Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969... (with 3 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) |
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| Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) | |
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Army Achievement Medal |
| U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons | |
| Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 3 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) | |
| National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... (with 1 Service Star Service star A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service... ) |
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| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy... |
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| Iraq Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal The Iraq Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004. The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.... (with 1 Service star Service star A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service... ) |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003... |
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Armed Forces Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal The Armed Forces Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created on January 11, 1996 by President Bill Clinton under... |
| Armed Forces Reserve Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America.... with gold Hourglass device Hourglass Device The Hourglass Device is a military award of the United States armed forces presented as an attachment to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. The Hourglass Device denotes total service as a member of the Reserve or National Guard and is issued in three degrees.... and 2 Mobilization device Mobilization Device The Mobilization Device is an award attachment to the United States Armed Forces Reserve Medal which denotes those who have received the decoration for duty in a recall to active service from a reserve or National Guard component of the United States military.The Mobilization Device was first... s |
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Army Service Ribbon Army Service Ribbon The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990.... |
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Army Overseas Service Ribbon |
| Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with numeral 2. | |
| NATO Medal NATO Medal The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It is manufactured by Eekelers - Centini, International, of Hemiksem, Belgium... |
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| Minnesota National Guard Medals and Service Ribbons | |
| Minnesota Commendation Medal with Pendant | |
| Minnesota State Active Duty Ribbon with 1 Gold Star | |
| Minnesota Distinguished Recruiting Ribbon with 2 Gold Stars | |
| Minnesota Service Medal with Roman numeral XXXV | |
Expert Infantryman Badge
The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the United States Army. Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge , it is a completely different award: while the CIB is awarded for participation in ground combat, the EIB is presented for completion of a...
Air Assault Badge
The Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...