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First Name: Frank

Last Name: Grass

Birthplace: Arnold, MO, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Middle Name: J.



Date of Birth: 19 May 1951



Rank: General

Years Served: 1969 - present
Frank J. Grass

   
Biography:

Frank J. Grass
General, U.S. Army
Chief, National Guard Bureau

Frank J. Grass was born on 19 May 1951 in Arnold, MO. He graduated from Arnold's Fox High School in 1969 and joined the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969. He served as an enlisted soldier and non-commissioned officer before graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1981 and receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps.

While serving as a traditional member of the National Guard, Grass pursued a civilian career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Grass has served in a variety of command and staff positions, first as a traditional National Guard soldier, and later as a member of the Active Guard and Reserve program on active duty. His command assignments included the 220th Engineer Company (1986 to 1988) as a Captain, and the 203rd Engineer Battalion (1997 to 1999) as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Since becoming a general officer in 2004, Grass's assignments have included: Deputy Director, Army National Guard (2004 to 2006); Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters U.S. European Command (2006 to 2008); Director of Operations, U.S. Northern Command (2008 to 2010); and Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command (2010 to 2012).

In June 2012, Grass was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau and appointment to the four-star rank of General in the Reserve Active Duty of the Army. The appointment and promotion were confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 26 July 2012. Grass' promotion to General was effective 7 September 2012 and he formally assumed Command of the National Guard Bureau in a ceremony that day.

Education

• 1975, St. Louis Community College, Associates Degree, Environmental Technology, St. Louis, MO.
• 1985, Metropolitan State University, Bachelor of Science, Liberal Arts, St. Paul, MN.
• 1997, Missouri State University, Master of Science, Resource Planning, Springfield, MO.
• 2000, National War College, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, Washington, DC.
• 2006, National Defense University, CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, Washington, DC.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass Device
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 2
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Superior Unit Award
Parachutist Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge

Other Awards

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

Chronological List of Officer Assignments

• 1. September 1981 - October 1981, Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, 220th Engineer Company, Festus, MO.
• 2. October 1981 - February 1982, Student, Engineer Officer Basic Course, Fort Belvoir, VA
• 3. February 1982 - January 1984, Project Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, St. Paul, MN.
• 4. January 1984 - November 1984, Platoon Leader, Company D, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA.
• 5. November 1984 - May 1985, Executive Officer, Company D, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA.
• 6. May 1985 - January 1986, Battalion Motor Officer, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA.
• 7. January 1986 - February 1986, U.S. Army Reserve Control Group, Unassigned, St. Louis, MO.
• 8. February 1986 - July 1986, S4, 880th Engineer Battalion, Jefferson Barracks, MO.
• 9. July 1986 - July 1988, Commander, 220th Engineer Company, Festus, MO
• 10. July 1988 - July 1988, Civil Engineer, 35th Engineer Brigade, Jefferson Barracks, MO.
• 11. July 1988 - July 1991, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
• 12. July 1991 - June 1992, Student, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
• 13. June 1992 - July 1994, Engineer Exercise Project Officer, Headquarters, United States Army South, Fort Clayton, Panama.
• 14. July 1994 - July 1997, Chief, Exercise Section, Exercise Branch, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, VA.
• 15. July 1997 - July 1999, Commander, 203rd Engineer Battalion, Joplin, MO.
• 16. July 1999 - June 2000, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, DC.
• 17. June 2000 - September 2003, Chief, Operations Division, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, VA.
• 18. September 2003 - April 2004, G-3, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, VA.
• 19. April 2004 - May 2006, Deputy Director, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, VA.
• 20. May 2006 - September 2008, Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
• 21. September 2008 - September 2010, Director of Operations, United States Northern Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
• 22. September 2010 - September 2012, Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
• 23. September 2012 - Present, Chief, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA.

Effective Dates of Promotions

Second Lieutenant - 12 September 1981
First Lieutenant - 19 April 1983
Captain - 1 July 1985
Major - 4 August 1990
Lieutenant Colonel - 7 February 1995
Colonel - 31 May 2000
Brigadier General - 2 April 2004
Major General - 22 June 2006
Lieutenant General - 30 September 2010
General - 7 September 2012



Honoree ID: 236   Created by: MHOH

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