BRIGADIER GENERAL NICHOLAS OSTAPENKO

Assistant Adjutant General - Army, ARNG

Brigadier General Nicholas Ostapenko is assigned as the Assistant Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters, Minnesota National Guard. As Assistant Adjutant General - Army, he is the chief advisor to the Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to Army National Guard combat and combat support, strength readiness and mobilization, with a key leadership role in force transformation and mobilization for state active duty.

The General's military service began in 1971 when he enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He was commissioned in June 1974 and has commanded at all levels through manuver brigade, until his promotion to Brigadier General in November 2003. His most recent assignment was as Assistant/Deputy Division Commander, Support, 34th Infantry Division, Rosemount, Minnesota.

EDUCATION:

1975 University of Minnesota - BS Degree - Business Administration
1979 William Mitchell College of Law - Jusis Doctor Degree
1998 United States Army War College

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Jun 74 - Mar 75, Infantry Team Leader, 47th Adjutant General Company (-), Minnesota Army National Guard
2. Mar 75 - Sep 77, Tactical Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Minnesota Army National Guard
3. Sep 77 - Apr 79, Race Relations - Equal Opportunity Officer, 47th Infantry Division Support Command, Minnesota Army National Guard
4. May 79 - Apr 80, Plans Operation Officer, 47th Infantry Division Support Command, Minnesota Army National Guard
5. Apr 80 - Jan 83, Intelligence Security Officer, 47th Infantry Division Support Command, Minnesota Army National Guard
6. Feb 83 - Dec 84, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Division Support Command, Minnesota Army National Guard
7. Jan 85 - Sep 87, Detachment Commander, Headquarters State Area Command, Minnesota Army National Guard
8. Oct 87 - Aug 89, Assistant G3, 47th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard
9. Sep 89 - Oct 91, Executive Officer, 1st Battalion 94th Armor, Minnesota Army National Guard
10. Nov 91 - Jul 93, Detachment Commander and Selective Service Manager, State Area Command, Minnesota Army National Guard, Detachment 3
11. Aug 93 - Mar 94, Commander, 1st Battalion 194th Infantry, Minnesota Army National Guard
12. Apr 94 - Aug 96, Commander, 1st Battalion 94th Armor, Minnesota Army National Guard
13. Sep 96 - Jun 97, Executive Officer, 1st Brigade 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard
14. Jun 97 - Aug 97, Chief, Maintenance Division, State Area Command, Minnesota Army National Guard, Detachment 2
15. Sep 97 - Sep 99, Chief of Staff, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard
16. Oct 99 - Sep 02, Commander, 1st Brigade 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard
17. Oct 02 - May 03, Director, Plans, Operations and Military Support, Headquarters, State Area Command, Minnesota Army National Guard
18. May 03 - Nov 03, Assistant/Deputy Division Commander, Support, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard
19. Nov 03 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters, Minnesota National Guard

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver & 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hour Glass Device B, third award)
Army Service Ribbon
Selective Service Meritorious Service Award with Bronze Medal
Bronze Medallion of the Order of St. George (U.S. Armor Association)

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTIONS:

2LT ARNG 30 Jun 74
1LT ARNG 29 Jun 77
CPT ARNG 24 May 79
MAJ ARNG 07 Feb 85
LTC ARNG 09 Jan 92
COL ARNG 16 Sep 97
BG (Line) ARNG 05 Nov 03

(Current as of January 2004)