Commander, 81st Infantry BrigadeBrigadier General Rick Read assumed duties as the Commander, 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) on October 1, 1999. As the brigade commander he is responsible for the Readiness and Mobilization preparedness of a separate heavy brigade consisting of two Armor Battalions, one Mechanized Infantry Battalion, one direct support Field Artillery Battalion, one combat Engineer Battalion, one forward Support Battalion, one Military Intelligence Company, one Cavalry Troop, one Air Defense Artillery Battery and a Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
The General's military career began in June 1969 when he received his commission from Army ROTC at Oregon State University. He served six years on active duty which included tours with the 199th Separate Infantry Brigade (Light) and 23rd Field Artillery Group in Vietnam and with the 56th Field Artillery Brigade in Germany. He joined the Washington Army National Guard in September 1975 serving in assignments with the 2d Battalion 146th Field Artillery, the 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) and State Headquarters. Prior to his current assignment he served as Deputy Commander, 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) and Chief of Staff, WAARNG.
1969 Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon - BS - History/Military Science
1981 Command and General Staff College
1995 U.S. Army War College
1. Jul 69 - Oct 69, Student, Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
2. Oct 69 - Dec 69, Student, U.S. Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
3. Mar 70 - Jul 70, Forward Observer, Battery B, 2-40 Field Artillery, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Republic of Vietnam
4. Jul 70 - Sep 70, Assistant Executive Officer/Fire Direction Officer, Battery B, 2-140 Field Artillery, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Republic of Vietnam
5. Oct 70 - Jan 71, Executive Officer, Battery B, 2-32 Field Artillery, II Field Force Vietnam Artillery, Republic of Vietnam
6. Jan 71 - Mar 71, Air Observer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 23 Artillery Group, Republic of Vietnam
7. Mar 71 - Jun 71, Student, Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
8. Jul 71 - Mar 73, Firing Platoon Commander, Battery B, 1-81 Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade (PSG)
9. Mar 73 - Jun 74, Recon/Survey Officer/Assistant S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1-81 Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade (PSG)
10. Jul 74 - Jun 75, Student, Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
11. Jul 75 - Sep 75, USAR Control Group
12. Oct 75 - Oct 76, Supply Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, STARC-Washington, Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington
13. Oct 76 - Jan 77, Liaison Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2-146 Field Artillery, Vancouver, Washington
14. Feb 77 - Aug 79, Battery Commander, Battery B, 2-146 Field Artillery, Vancouver, Washington
15. Sep 79 - Aug 81, Battery Commander, Service Battery, 2-146 Field Artillery, Vancouver, Washington
16. Jul 81 - Dec 81, Student, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
17. Aug 81 - May 82, Battalion S-2, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (-), 2-146 Field Artillery, Olympia, Washington
18. Jun 82 - Dec 82, Battalion Fire Support Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (-), 2-146 Field Artillery, Olympia, Washington
19. Jan 83 - Aug 84, Brigade Fire Support Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (-), 2-146 Field Artillery, Olympia, Washington
20. Sep 84 - Dec 85, Battalion S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (-), 2-146 Field Artillery, Olympia, Washington
21. Jan 86 - Apr 88, Battalion Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (-), 2-146 Field Artillery, Olympia, Washington
22. May 88 - Aug 91, Battalion Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (-), 2-146 Field Artillery, Olympia, Washington
23. Sep 91 - Aug 92, Brigade Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Seattle, Washington
24. Sep 92 - May 94, Facilities Management Officer, Headquarters, STARC-Washington, Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington
25. Jun 94 - Sep 96, DCSOPS, Headquarters, STARC-Washington, Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington
26. Oct 96 - Sep 98, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, STARC-Washington, Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington
27. Oct 98 - Sep 99, Deputy Brigade Commander, 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Seattle, Washington
28. Oct 99 - Present, Commander, 81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Seattle, Washington
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Aircraft Crewmember Badge
Ranger Tab
Capitol Management Director, Military Department, State of Washington
2LT RA 8 Jun 69
1LT AUS 8 Jun 70
CAPT AUS 4 Jun 71
CAPT ARNG 1 Oct 75
MAJ ARNG 9 Mar 83
LTC ARNG 17 Feb 88
COL ARNG 1 Sep 92
BG (LINE) ARNG 31 Mar 00
(Current As of February 2001)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.