MAJOR GENERAL MELVIN L. BURCH

Assistant Adjutant General for Installations and Homeland Defense, West Virginia National Guard

Major General Melvin L. Burch is Assistant Adjutant General for Installations and Homeland Defense, West Virginia National Guard and also serves as the Deputy Commander of the West Virginia Army National Guard. As the Deputy Commander he is responsible for making recommendations on the proper employment of land forces, planning and coordinating land operations or accomplishing such operational missions as may be assigned by the Adjutant General. He has the authority necessary to accomplish missions and tasks assigned by The Adjutant General. General Burch is responsible for the overall readiness of the West Virginia Army National Guard. He provides engineering planning, ensures execution of all engineering operations, coordinates all aspects of engineering to include matters pertaining to installations, facilities, and the environment in support of military operations. General Burch maintains engineer staff communications with National Guard Bureau, Army and Air National Guard, and other local, state and federal agencies. He develops joint engineering and environmental plans, doctrine, policies, procedures, and reporting instructions in coordination with the West Virginia Joint Force Headquarters Staff.

General Burch was commissioned in 1971 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at The Ohio State University. He has commanded at every level to include an Engineer Brigade. From 2007 thru 2008 he served in Iraq as the Commander, 111th Engineer Brigade.

EDUCATION:

1971 The Ohio State University, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, Columbus, Ohio
1999 U.S. Army War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. July 1971 - February 1972, United States Army Reserve Control Group, St. Louis, Missouri
2. February 1972 - May 1972, Student, Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
3. May 1972 - January 1974, United States Army Reserve Control Group, St. Louis, Missouri
4. January 1974 - January 1975, Platoon Leader, Company C, 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Moundsville, West Virginia
5. January 1975 - April 1975, Student, Engineer Officer Basic Course, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
6. April 1975 - November 1975, Platoon Leader, Company C, 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Moundsville, West Virginia
7. November 1975 - August 1976, Executive Officer, Company C, 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Moundsville, West Virginia
8. September 1976 - March 1977, Assistant Operations Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Parkersburg, West Virginia
9. April 1977 - June 1978, Reconnaissance Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Parkersburg, West Virginia
10. June 1978 - February 1979, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Parkersburg, West Virginia
11. March 1979 - January 1981, Chemical Officer, 111th Engineer Group, St. Albans, West Virginia
12. January 1981 - September 1982, Utility Engineer, 111th Engineer Group, St. Albans, West Virginia
13. October 1982 - August 1984, Operations Officer, 111th Engineer Group, St. Albans, West Virginia
14. September 1984 - February 1985, S-3, 111th Engineer Group, St. Albans, West Virginia
15. February 1985 - February 1989, S-1, 111th Engineer Group, St. Albans, West Virginia
16. February 1989 - September 1991, Military Personnel Officer, West Virginia-State Area Command, Charleston, West Virginia
17. September 1991 - October 1994, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel, West Virginia-State area Command, Charleston, West Virginia
18. October 1994 - August 1996, Commander, 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Parkersburg, West Virginia
19. August 1996 - March 1997, Deputy Director, Facility and Engineering, West Virginia-State Area Command, Charleston, West Virginia
20. March 1997 - April 1998, Post Mobilization Officer, West Virginia-State Area Command, Charleston, West Virginia
21. April 1998 - October 1998, Director, Facilities and Engineering, West Virginia-State Area Command, Charleston, West Virginia
22. October 1998 - September 2001, Commander, 111th Engineer Group, St. Albans, West Virginia
23. September 2001 - January 2004, Chief of Staff, West Virginia-State Area Command, Charleston, West Virginia
24. January 2004 - July 2006, Director, Facilities and Engineering, Joint forces Headquarters-West Virginia, Charleston, West Virginia
25. July 2006 - June 2007, Commander, 111th Engineer Brigade, Eleanor, West Virginia
26. June 2007 - June 2008, Commander, 111th Engineer Brigade, Camp Speicher, Iraq
27. June 2008 - June 2010, Assistant Adjutant General 'Army, West Virginia National Guard, West Virginia Joint Force Headquarters, Charleston, West Virginia
28. July 2010 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General for Installations and Homeland Defense, West Virginia Joint Force Headquarters, Charleston, West Virginia

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass and M Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 5)
West Virginia Legion of Merit
West Virginia Achievement Ribbon
West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
West Virginia State Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
West Virginia Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
West Virginia National Guard Minuteman Ribbon
West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

General Burch is currently employed by the West Virginia Army National Guard as a West Virginia Military Authority employee. He is the Director of Installations and Operations. General Burch has the overall responsibility for planning, design, construction and maintenance of over two million square feet of Army National Guard facilities at 34 locations statewide. He is responsible for over 350 Military Authority employees involved in a variety of activities supporting both the Army and Air National Guard with an annual state budget of over $17.5 million.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of West Virginia
Ducks Unlimited
Boat US
Cave Run Sailing Association
Lions Club

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

1999 Past Chairman, Facility Engineer Advisory Council

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

Second Lieutenant USAR 22 July 1971
Second Lieutenant ARNG 19 January 1974
First Lieutenant ARNG 21 July 1974
Captain ARNG 20 July 1978
Major ARNG 15 February 1985
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 1 September 1991
Colonel ARNG 11 March 1997
Brigadier General ARNG 16 July 2008
Major General ARNG 8 August 2010

(Current as of November 2010)