MAJOR GENERAL RICKY D. ERLANDSON

COMMANDER, 34TH INFANTRY DIVISION

Major General Rick Erlandson is assigned as Commander of the 34th 'Red Bull' Infantry Division, headquartered in Rosemount, Minnesota. As Commander, he is responsible for the personnel, training, and logistics readiness for the top-ranked National Guard Division. He commands over 12,000 members of the Division in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Missouri, and Indiana. Major General Erlandson recently returned from a six-month assignment as Commanding General for Task Force Falcon, KFOR 5B, Kosovo.

The General's active military service began in 1969 when he joined the United States Marine Corps and attended United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. He was commissioned in December 1969, and served one tour in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines. General Erlandson joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1976 and has commanded at all levels through multinational task force, until his promotion to Major General in September, 2004. His most recent assignment was as Commanding General, Task Force Falcon, KFOR 5B, Kosovo, an assignment he performed while dual-assigned as Assistant Adjutant General, Minnesota Army National Guard, and Assistant Division Commander, 85th Training Support Division.

EDUCATION:

1968 Saint Cloud State University - BS Degree - Biology
1972 United States Navy Flight Training
1974 Pepperdine University - MS Degree - Education
1991 Army War College

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Dec 70 - Feb 72, Navy Flight Training, Pensacola, Florida
2. Feb 72 - Apr 74, Training Off/S-3, Heavy Marine Helicopter 363, Santa Ana, CA
3. Apr 74 - May 75, Maintenance Officer/ Flight Line Officer Heavy Marine Helicopter 462, USS Okinawa, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines
4. May 75 - Aug 75, Flight Leader, Heavy Marine Helicopter 363, Santa Ana, CA
5. Aug 75 - May 76, United State Marine Corps Reserves
6. May 76 - Sep 76, Rotary Wing Pilot, Support Company, 47th Aviation Battalion, St Paul, Minnesota
7. Sep 76 - Feb 77, Section Leader, Support Company, 47th Aviation Battalion, St Paul, Minnesota
8. Feb 77 - Nov 77, Section Leader, Support Company, 47th Aviation Battalion, St Paul, Minnesota
9. Nov 77 - Feb 80, Flight Operations Officer, Company Headquarters, 47th Aviation Battalion, St Paul, Minnesota
10. Feb 80 - Jun 82, Platoon Leader, Company A, 47th Aviation Battalion, St Paul, Minnesota
11. Jun 82 - Feb 85, Commander, Company E, 47th Aviation Battalion St Paul, Minnesota
12. Feb 85 - Jun 87, Aviation Staff Airfield Commander, Installation Support Unit, Minnesota Training Site, Camp Ripley, Little Falls, Minnesota
13. Jun 87 - Nov 90, Executive Officer, Aviation Brigade, St Paul, Minnesota
14. Dec 90 - Aug 92, Commander, 1st Squadron, 194th Cavalry, Brainerd, Minnesota
15. Sep 92 - Dec 96, Commander, Headquarters Aviation Brigade, St Paul, Minnesota
16. Dec 96 - Jan 97, Director of Aviation, Headquarters, State Area Command Minnesota Army National Guard, St Paul, Minnesota
17. Jan 97 - Nov 97, Commander, Installation Support Unit, Little Falls, Minnesota
18. Dec 97 - Mar 00, Commander, Training Site Unit, Little Falls, Minnesota
19. Mar 00 - Aug 00, Temporary TDA Position, Headquarters State Area Command, Minnesota Army National Guard, St Paul, Minnesota
20. Aug 00 - May 03, Assistant Adjutant General, (Support), State Area Command Minnesota Army National Guard, St Paul, Minnesota
21. May 03 - Sep 04, dual position as Assistant Division Commander, 85th Training Support Division, and Assistant Adjutant General Army National Guard with duty as Commanding General, Task Force Falcon, Kosovo
22. Sep 04 - Present, Commander, 34th Infantry Division, Rosemount, Minnesota

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit (With 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal (With 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (With 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (With 1 Bronze Star)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hour glass and M Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Army Aviator Master Badge

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTIONS:

2LT USMC 20 Dec 70
1LT USMC 01 Feb 72
1LT USMCR 16 Aug 75
CPT USMCR 01Sep 75
CPT ARNG 10 Feb 77
MAJ ARNG 17 Mar 83
LTC ARNG 17 Sep 87
COL ARNG 02 Sep 92
BG(L) ARNG 22 Aug 00
MG (Line) ARNG 10 Sep 04