Brigadier General Lawrence H. Woodbury is chief of staff, Headquarters, North Dakota Air National Guard, Bismarck, N.D. Serving as the senior Air National Guard officer in the state, he formulates, plans and establishes policies for the North Dakota Air National Guard and the 119th Fighter Wing, consisting of 1,100 personnel and 15 fighter aircraft. He coordinates staff activities pertaining to administration, operations, maintenance, and resources to assure the accomplishment of state and unit missions. Additional responsibilities include maintaining liaison with organizational commanders to ensure adequate support of all functions, implementing directives and operational orders from higher headquarters, and evaluating the effectiveness of training programs and the availability and readiness of flight crews.
The general began his military career by receiving a commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at North Dakota State University in 1968. After his initial tour of active duty as a civil engineer officer with the 513th Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) at RAF Mildenhall, England, he left active duty. He joined the North Dakota Air National Guard in 1974. His tenure as a civil engineering officer with the 119th Civil Engineering Squadron was interrupted by a tour in a similar capacity with the 40th CES at Buckley Air National Guard Base in Denver, Colo., in 1977. After returning to the 119th CES, he continued to serve as a civil engineering officer in increasing levels of responsibility until assuming command of the unit in 1990. During his command time, the 119th Civil Engineering Squadron was the largest civil engineering and services squadron in the Air National Guard with 320 personnel assigned. In 1999 he was temporarily assigned as commander of the 119th Medical and Dental Squadron (MDS). Despite extremely difficult circumstances and being geographically separated from the main base due to storm-damaged facilities, the 119th MDS received an 'Outstanding' rating on their Health Services Inspection in June 2000. General Woodbury returned to Headquarters North Dakota Air National Guard after being selected as chief of staff in August 2000.
EDUCATION:
1968 Bachelor of science degree in civil engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo
1972 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1973 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1973 Master of business administration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
1975 Master of science degree in civil engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo
1985 National Security Management Course
1986 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in engineering (Water Resources), North Dakota State University, Fargo
1993 Air War College, by seminar
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. January 1970 - September 1974, civil engineering officer, 513th Civil Engineering Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
2. September 1974 - November 1977, civil engineering officer, 119th Civil Engineering Flight, Hector Field, Fargo, N.D.
3. November 1977 - August 1978, civil engineering officer, 140th Civil Engineering Flight, Buckley Air National Guard Base, Colo.
4. August 1978 - June 1990, civil engineering officer, 119th Civil Engineering Squadron, Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D.
5. June 1990 - January 1996, commander, 119th Civil Engineering Squadron, Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D.
6. January 1996 - August 1997, director of support, Headquarters, North Dakota Air National Guard, Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D.
7. August 1997 - August 2000, executive support staff officer, Headquarters, North Dakota Air National Guard, Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D.
8. June 1999 - Sept 2000, commander, 119th Medical and Dental Squadron, North Dakota Air National Guard, Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D.
9. August 2000 - present, chief of staff, North Dakota Air National Guard, Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D.
BADGES:
Master Civil Engineer Badge
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with one device
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six devices
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Air Force Longevity Service Award with six devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one device
Air Force Training Ribbon
North Dakota Commendation Medal with one device
Colorado Commendation Ribbon
North Dakota State Achievement Ribbon
North Dakota Recruiting Ribbon
North Dakota Service Ribbon with two hourglass devices
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
President and CEO of Civil Engineering Consulting Firm
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
Outstanding Graduate, National Security Management Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C., 1985
Outstanding Graduate, U.S. Air Force Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., 1993
Outstanding Senior Officer, North Dakota Air National Guard, 1993
Licensed Professional Engineer in six states
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:
Second Lieutenant Jun 1, 1968
First Lieutenant Jun 5, 1971
Captain Jun 5, 1973
Major Sep 25, 1981
Lieutenant Colonel Oct 17, 1987
Colonel Dec 29, 1995
Brigadier General Nov 1, 2001
(Current as of December 2001)