Brigadier General Ronald B. Turk
Brig. Gen. Ronald B. Turk was the Chief of Staff, Maryland Air National Guard. He directed the Air-Staff assigned to the Maryland Joint Force Headquarters in providing higher headquarters support to over 1,500 authorized personnel. He was responsible to the Assistant Adjutant General - Air and The Adjutant General for ensuring that the units of the Maryland Air National Guard are organized, trained and equipped to support federal and state missions. Additionally, he was the principle advisor and primary advocate for strategic initiatives.
General Turk’s federal dual assignment was the Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, providing oversight and input concerning laws, regulations and policy of the Human Capital portfolio to ensure mission success. In this role, Brigadier General Turk assisted in areas of diversity, force development, force management, total force and Airman and Family Readiness. General Turk was commissioned as an Officer by the Air National Guard in 1991. Prior to receiving his commission, he served as an enlisted member of the United States Air Force on active duty, and later in the Air National Guard in both Texas and New Jersey. Brigadier General Turk spent over twenty-five years in the New Jersey Air National Guard, where he led the 108th Security Forces Squadron through two wartime mobilizations covering nearly three years of active duty service. He most recently served as the deployed commander for the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron in Baghdad, Iraq in 2007-2008, and has also led several state missions including a deployment to New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina.
EDUCATION
1988 Sam Houston State University, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Huntsville, Texas
1996 SOS, non-residence
2000 ACSC, non-residence
2005 University of Louisville, Master of Science, Justice Administration, Louisville, Kentucky
2006 Air War College (AirWC), by correspondence
2010 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1991 - October 1994, Commander, 170th Security Police Flight, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
2. October 1994 - October 1996, Operations Officer, 108th Security Forces Squadron, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
3. October 1996 - August 2008, Commander, 108th Security Forces Squadron, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
4. August 2008 - July 2015, Director of Support - Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
5. July 2015 - August 2018, Chief of Staff, Baltimore, MD; dual-hatted, May 2018 - July 2018, Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (SAF/MR), Washington, DC
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star)
Iraqi Freedom Medal (with Bronze Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with Bronze Star)
Air Force Short Tour Overseas Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Medal (with Gold Border)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 3)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with Bronze Star)
Air Force Training Ribbon
New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
New Jersey Commendation Medal
New Jersey Merit Award Ribbon (with Numeral 12)
New Jersey Governor’s Unit Award Ribbon (with gold border)
New Jersey Unit Strength Award Ribbon (with gold border)
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal
Texas Outstanding Service Medal
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Retired Deputy Director (Acting) for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Served as a Special Agent in the Senior Executive Service, appointed in April 2015 by the Attorney General of the United States. Was directly responsible for leading a law enforcement agency of nearly 5,100 men and women with a $1.3 billion budget charged with enforcing laws and regulations related to firearms, explosives, and arson across the country. Retired in February 2018 after serving over 28 1/2 years as an ATF Special Agent.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFLIATIONS
National Guard Innovation Team
Air National Guard Atlantic Region Strategic Planning Systems Committee Member
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Maryland
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Police Executive Research Forum
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Level II Joint Qualified Officer
Dual Status Commander Qualified
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 3, 1991
First Lieutenant Oct. 3, 1993
Captain Oct. 19, 1995
Major Oct. 30, 1999
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 14, 2003
Colonel March 12, 2009
Brigadier General Aug. 6, 2015
(Current as of August 2018)
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