Brigadier General Esther A. Rada is the assistant adjutant general for Air for New York State. She is the senior Air National Guard advisor to the adjutant general, and is responsible for the coordination of all Air National Guard staff activities in the State. Brigadier General Rada also works with senior leadership of the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, across the nation and the National Guard Bureau.
General Rada received her commission by direct appointment and began her active duty career with the Air Force in June 1980. During her six-year active duty tour, she served as the Chief of Military Justice at Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND, and Chief of Labor Law for Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base, NE. There she functioned as the Executive Officer to Generals Norris, Nelson and Morehouse as well. In 1986, Brigadier General Rada transferred to the Air Force Reserve as a Catorgory A reservist and was assigned to the 514 Military Airlift Wing legal office, Maguire Air Force Base, NJ. In 1987, she moved to the New York Air National Guard as a traditional Guardsperson serving first as the deputy staff judge advocate and then the staff judge advocate for the 105 Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York.
In 2001, General Rada was assigned as the Joint Headquarters New York Air National Guard staff judge advocate at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Latham, New York. Her principal duties included the provision of legal advice to the New York Air National Guard Commander who was simultaneously the adjutant general of the State of New York on all matters concerning the New York Air National Guard. She supervised the activities of six wing legal offices with eleven Judge Advocates and twelve paralegals across the state and was responsible for implementation of New York State Air National Guard Legal Services strategic initiatives and goals. In 2003 and 2004 she was the Team Chief for the Congressionally mandated Model State Military Justice Code. The Model State Code, Manual for Military Justice and the Implementation Plan received Department of Defense General Counsel approval in 2005.
1975 Bachelor of Arts, History, College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, New York
1978 Doctor of Jurisprudence, St Louis University School of Law, St Louis, Missouri
1986 Air Command and Staff College by Correspondence
1998 Air War College by Correspondence
1. September 1980 - December 1982, assistant staff judge advocate, 321 Combat Support Group, Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND
2. December 1982 - April 1983, chief Military Justice, 321 Combat Support Group, Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND
3. April 1983 - December 1986, chief Labor Law & General Law, Strategic Air Command Headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska
4. December 1986 - October 1987, judge advocate, 514 Military Airlift Wing, Maguire Air Force Base, New Jersey
5. October 1987 - November 1995, deputy judge advocate, 105 Airlift Wing, Newburgh, New York
6. November 1995 - March 2000, staff judge advocate, 105 Airlift Wing, Newburgh, New York
7. March 2000 - December 2005, staff judge advocate, Headquarters New York Air National Guard, Latham, New York
8. January 2006 - present, assistant adjutant general for Air, Latham, New York
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 bronze oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass
Air Force Training Ribbon
New York Conspicuous Service Medal
New York Long and Faithful Service Award with 2 silver shields
Defense of Liberty Ribbon
Kappa Gamma Pi 1975
Strategic Air Command Outstanding Attorney in 1982
Strategic Air Command Nominee for Albert M. Kuhfeld Award 1982
Outstanding Young Woman of America 1986
The Air National Guard Liaison to 21AF/JA 1994-1998
Pearson Peace Keeping Center/ Joint Spirit 1999
National Guard Bureau Minuteman Award 2003
First Lieutenant 05 June 1980
Captain 13 July 1980
Major 26 February 1988
Lieutenant Colonel 20 February 1996
Colonel 30 March 2001
Brigadier General 23 December 2005
(Current as of July 2007)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.