Brigadier General Ralph L. Dewsnup serves as the Chief of Staff, Utah Air National Guard in Salt Lake City, Utah. As Chief of Staff, he assists the commanding general in formulating, developing, and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans affecting the 1,500-member Utah Air National Guard.

The general enlisted in the Utah Air National Guard in 1967 and received his commission through the Air National Guard commissioning program in 1974 as the honor graduate. For the last two years, he has served as the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Utah National Guard and as Western Exercise Director for the Global and Joint Patriot training events.

EDUCATION:

1972 Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance, Cum Laude, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
1976 Squadron Officer School, (correspondence)
1977 Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
1987 Air Command and Staff College, (correspondence)
1994 Air War College, (seminar/correspondence)

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. February 1974 - February 1976, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 151st CAMS, Utah ANG, Salt Lake City, Utah
2. February 1976 - July 1979, Logistics Plans and Programs Officer, 151st ARG, Utah ANG, Salt Lake City, Utah
3. July 1979 - May 1981, Logistics Plans and Programs Officer, 151st RMS, Utah ANG, Salt Lake City, Utah
4. May 1981 - August 1982, Personnel Programs Officer, Headquarters Utah ANG, Salt Lake City, Utah
5. August 1982 - December 1996, State Plans and Programs Officer, Headquarters, Utah ANG, Salt Lake City, Utah
6. December 1996 - August 2000, State Command and Control Officer, Headquarters, Utah ANG, Salt Lake City, Utah
7. August 2000 - present, Chief of Staff, Utah ANG, Salt Lake City, Utah

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Meritorious Service Award
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (rifle)
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

President - Dewsnup, King and Olsen, Attorneys at Law, Salt Lake City, Utah
Private legal practice that specializes in civil litigation involving personal injuries and insurance claims, with emphasis in medical malpractice.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:

Admitted to the Bar of the Utah Supreme Court
Admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States
Admitted to the Bar of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Admitted to the Bar of the Federal District Court for the District of Utah
Member, Utah State Bar and Salt Lake County Bar Association
Member, Federal Bar Association
Member, Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Member, Utah Trial Lawyers Association (past president)
Member, American Inn of Court VII (past president)

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

A. Sherman Christensen Award, American Inns of Court Foundation (1992)
Trustee, American Inns of Court Foundation (1988-1998)
Member, Utah Judicial Conference Committee on Improving Jury Service
Member, Utah Civil Jury Instruction Committee
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, by Naifeh & Smith 1995-Present
Outstanding Achievement Award, Utah Trial Lawyers Association, 1998
Honored Alumni Award, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, 1990

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 14 February 1974
First Lieutenant 11 July 1976
Captain 14 October 1978
Major 29 October 1982
Lieutenant Colonel 16 May 1987
Colonel 18 May 1996
Brigadier General 9 October 2001

(Current as of March 2003)

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.

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