BRIGADIER GENERAL ORLANDO SALINAS

Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Texas National Guard

Brigadier General Orlando Salinas is Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Texas National Guard, Texas Joint Force Headquarters. He assists The Adjutant General to train, equip, support, recruit and retain approximately 19,000 Soldiers and their families for readiness in units throughout Texas. General Salinas monitors training of Army units with a view toward preparing for mobilization in support of Homeland Defense and international anti-terrorism missions. He assists Adjutant General in furtherance of vision, mission, goals, objectives and values of Texas National Guard forces, including all Texas Army National Guard units. General Salinas monitors strength management, Soldier morale and welfare, and deployment status, providing command emphasis and targeted staff assistance. He serves as the Adjutant General's primary relay of command information to subordinate commands, rates subordinate commanders and provides guidance for their successful implementation of command and family support programs.

General Salinas is also dual-hatted as Deputy Commanding General, United States Army South, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. As Deputy Commanding General, he serves as senior officer of the main command post when the operational command post is deployed and ensures that normal operations continue without interruptions. General Salinas serves as acting commander in the absence of the Commanding General for all operations and represents him and United States Army South leadership at Senior Executive Level meetings, conferences, briefings, ceremonies and other activities as required. Additionally, General Salinas serves as Director, United States Army South exercises as required.

General Salinas was commissioned in 1984 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

EDUCATION:

1984 Texas Arts and Industry University, Bachelor in Science Degree, Elementary Education, Kingsville, Texas
1994 University of Brownsville, Master of Arts, Education Administration, Brownsville, Texas
2008 United States Army War College, by Correspondence
2008 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. October 1984 - March 1986, Platoon Leader, B Company, 327th Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky
2. March 1986 - September 1986, Specialty Platoon Leader, D Company, 327th Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky
3. September 1986 - January 1988, Executive Officer, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 327th Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Fort Campbell, Kentucky
4. January 1988 - April 1989, Inactive Ready Reserve
5. April 1989 - October 1989, Scout Platoon Leader/Detachment Commander, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry, (Mechanized), Weslaco, Texas
6. November 1989 - October 1993, Commander, A Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry (Mechanized), Weslaco, Texas
9. October 1993 - October 1996, Aide-de-Camp, Detachment 1, State Area Command, Austin, Texas
10. October 1996 - November 1998, Liaison, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas
11. December 1998 - January 2001, G3 Plans Officer, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas
12. January 2001 - January 2002, S3, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, San Antonio, Texas
13. February 2002 - November 2003, Executive Officer, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, San Antonio, Texas
14. November 2003 - February 2007, Commander, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry, (Mechanized), Weslaco, Texas
17. February 2007 - December 2007, Sector Officer in Charge, Operation Jump Start, Weslaco, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, Weslaco, Texas
18. December 2007 - July 2009, Commander, 136th Regimental Brigade, G-3/5, Austin, Texas
19. July 2009 - April 2011, Commander, 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Austin, Texas
20. April 2011 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Texas National Guard, Austin, Texas; dual-hatted, June 2012 - Present, Deputy Commanding General, United States Army South, Fort Sam Houston, Texas

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 2)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Texas Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal
Texas Outstanding Service Medal (with 1 Acorn)
Texas Adjutant General's Individual Award
Texas Federal Service Medal
Texas Desert Shield/Desert Storm Campaign Medal
Texas Combat Service Ribbon
Texas Faithful Service Ribbon (with 3 Cacti)
Combat Infantry Badge
Expert Infantry Badge
Ranger Tab
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of Texas Life Member
Military Officers Association of America
Veterans of Foreign War

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

Infantry Association Honorable Order of Saint Maurice

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 18 May 1984
First Lieutenant 23 November 1985
First Lieutenant 08 April 1989
Captain 23 April 1990
Major 02 February 1998
Lieutenant Colonel 26 May 2004
Colonel 07 February 2008
Brigadier General 13 April 2011

(Current as of July 2012)