MAJOR GENERAL JOHN S. HARREL

Assistant Adjutant General - Army, California National Guard

Major General John S. Harrel assumed the duties of Assistant Adjutant General, California National Guard in June 2009. In this capacity, General Harrel provides operational oversight and guidance for the California Army National Guard, a force of over 17,000.

General Harrel's active military service began in 1975 after being commissioned a second lieutenant through the United States Marines Platoon Leaders Course. Since his commissioning he has held many positions of great responsibility to include Commander, 40th Infantry Division and as the Commanding General for Task Force Falcon/Multi-National Brigade (East), Kosovo and Army Forces (ARFOR) Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania.

EDUCATION:

1973 Glendale Community College, Associates Degree, History, Glendale, California
1975 California State University, Northridge, Bachelor of Administration, History, Northridge, California
1983 Southwestern University School of Law, Jurist Doctorate, Law, Los Angeles, California
1997 The Ohio State University, United States Army War College Fellowship, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Columbus, Ohio
2003 General Officer Legal Course, Charlottesville, Virginia

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. June 1975- December 1975, Student, Basic Officer Course, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia
2. January 1976-June 1977, Commander Rifle Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Camp Lejune, North Carolina
3. June 1977- February 1978, Executive Officer, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Camp Lejune, North Carolina
4. February 1978- June 1978, Assistant S-4 (Logistics), 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Okinawa, Japan
5. June 1978- February 1979, Executive Officer, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Okinawa, Japan
6. February 1979-January 1980, Guard Platoon Commander, Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Alameda, California
7. January 1980- June 1980, Commander, Administrative Company, Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Alameda, California
8. June 1980- September 1980, Inactive, United States Army Reserve
9. September 1980- October 1982, Assistant S-2 (Intelligence), 1st Brigade, 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) San Pedro, California
10. October 1982- December 1983, Motor Officer, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry (Mechanized), Glendale, California
11. December 1983-August 1985, Commander, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry (Mechanized), Burbank, California
12. August 1985- June 1987, Commander, Echo Company, 3rd Battalion, 160th Infantry (Mechanized), Burbank, California
13. June 1987- July 1989, Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion, 160th Infantry (Mechanized), Inglewood, California
14. July 1989- August 1990, Assistant G3 (Plans), 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Los Alamitos, California
15. August 1990-April 1992, Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 185th Armor, San Bernardino, California
16. April 1992- May 1992, Commander Task Force, 1-185th Armor, (Los Angeles Riots) Los Angeles, California
17. May 1992- August 1993, Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 185th Armor, San Bernardino, California
18. August 1993- August 1994, Deputy G3 (Operations), 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Los Alamitos, California
19. August 1994- July 1996, Commander, 1st Battalion, 185th Armor, San Bernardino, California
20. July 1996- July 1997, Fellowship, United States Army War College, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
21. July 1997- September 1997, Commander, 3rd Battalion, 185th Armor, San Diego, California
22. September 1997- September 1998, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 160th Infantry (Mechanized), Fresno, California
23. September 1998- April 1999, Assistant Chief of Staff Operations (G3), 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Los Alamitos, California
24. April 1999-September 1999, Assistant Chief of Staff Operations (G3), 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Los Alamitos, California
25. September 1999- November 2002, Commander, 2nd Brigade, 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized), San Diego, California
26. November 2002- October 2004, Chief of Staff, 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Los Alamitos, California
27. October 2004 - August 2005, Chief of Staff/Executive Officer, Task Force Falcon/ Multi-National Brigade (East), Kosovo and Army Forces (ARFOR), Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
28. August 2005 - January 2006, Commanding General, Task Force Falcon/Multi-National Brigade (East), Kosovo and Army Forces (ARFOR), Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
29. January 2006 - August 2007, Assistant Division Commander-Maneuver, 40th Infantry Division, Los Alamitos, California
30. August 2007 - May 2009, Commander, 40th Infantry Division, Los Alamitos, California
29. June 2009 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General- Army, California National Guard, Sacramento, California

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit with (1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 'M' Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Non Chapter 5 Medal
Army Superior Unit Award
California Medal of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
California Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Kansas Meritorious Service Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Service Star)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

Second Lieutenant 3 June 1975
First Lieutenant 1 June 1977
Captain 1 November 1979
Major 3 November 1988
Lieutenant Colonel 18 October 1994
Colonel 01November 1999
Brigadier General 21August 2005
Major General 2 October 2007

(Current as of April 2010)