Oregon Military Department


The Oregon Military Department is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, which oversees the armed forces of the state of Oregon. Under the authority and direction of the governor as commander-in-chief, the agency is responsible for planning, establishing, and enforcing rules and procedures governing the administration, supply, and training of the Oregon National Guard, when not in the active service of the United States. The Department also maintains all state-owned or leased military facilities, including posts, camps, military reservations, and rifle ranges.

Staff

The adjutant general serves as the administrative director of the Military Department and is the military command officer of the national guard. The Military Council, composed of the adjutant general and six to ten officers of the National Guard, operates as an advisory staff to the governor, in much the same way as the Joint Chiefs of Staff advise the President. The Army and Air wings of the National Guard have proportional representation on the council according to their current total strength.

Structure

The Oregon Military Department is split into the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Air National Guard. The structure of units is listed below.
The Adjutant General and Command Staff, Salem, Oregon
State Agency Directory: Military Department

Oregon Army National Guard

Approximately 97 percent of the funds for the Oregon National Guard are provided by the federal government. This does not reflect the considerably smaller figure of $35.9 million or 9% which is included within the Department's budget. The difference can be accounted for by the fact that troop salaries and wages are paid to them directly by the federal government. Federal funds support 100% of troop training, Defense Department programs, base security and fire protection, and youth programs; 75% of the logistical support for training sites; and most facility, maintenance and supply expenditures of the Air National Guard.

Role

The National Guard is the only statewide civil defense organization of significant size and provides emergency assistance. In the event of a federal call-up of the National Guard sufficient that it cannot fulfill its state role, domestic deployment of the reserve can be ordered. Since 1989 the Oregon National Guard Reserve is known officially as the Oregon Civil Defense Force. The ORCDF is an all-volunteer militia force under the Oregon Military Department that provides reserve personnel to both the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Air National Guard. It is under state jurisdiction and its members are employed only within the State of Oregon. It is not subject to any federal orders. Its mission is to provide units organized, equipped and trained in the protection of life or property and the preservation of peace, order and public safety under competent orders of State authorities.
As of just before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, 9,268 Oregon National Guard
members had been deployed to Afghanistan |Afghanistan], Iraq, and the Iraq Southern No Fly Zone since 2002; 20 have been killed in action.
In April 2015, the Oregon Military Department suspended the Oregon State Defense Force. A spokesman for the OMD stated that the suspension was temporary and the ORSDF would return to active service. In December 2019, the ORSDF was reactivated under its current name: the Oregon Civil Defense Force.

Facilities

The Military Department is based in Salem, with armories, camps, air bases and other facilities around the state. The Salem Armory Auditorium next to the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem is rented out as a concert venue, and for shows, conventions, graduations, dances and conferences.

Directors/Commanders

Oregon National Guard
  • Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold 2023-Current
  • Major General Michael E. Stencel 2015 - 2023
  • Major General Daniel R. Hokanson 2013 - 2015
  • Major General Raymond F. Rees 2005 - 2013
  • Brigadier General Raymond C. Byrne 2003 - 2005
  • Major General Alexander H. Burgin 1999 - 2003
  • Major General Raymond F. Rees 1994 - 1999
  • Major General Gene A. Katke 1991 - 1994
  • Major General Raymond F. Rees 1987 - 1991
  • Major General Richard A. Miller 1973 -1987
  • Major General Donald N. Anderson 1963-1973
  • Major General Paul L. Kliever 1962 - 1963
  • Major General Alfred E. Hintz 1959 - 1962
  • Major General Thomas A. Rilea 1947 - 1959
  • Brigadier General Raymond F. Olson 1944 - 1946
  • Colonel Elmer V. Wooten 1941 - 1944
  • Major General George A. White 1920 - 1941
Unified Oregon Militia/Oregon National Guard Era 1887-1920
  • Conrad Stafrin 9 June 1919 - 15 Apr 1920
  • Charles F. Beebe 1 Sep 1918 - 31 Mar 1919
  • George A. White 1 Feb 1915
  • William E Finzer 1 Sep 1903
  • Calvin U. Gantenbein 1 Nov 1899
  • Benjamin B. Tuttle 1 Apr 1895
  • Robert W. Mitchell 12 Oct 1891
  • James C. Shofner 30 Apr 1887
Oregon Community Militia Era 1847-1886
  • George Williams 11 Mar 1886
  • Rocky P. Earhart 10 Sep 1885
  • Lyman S. Scott 24 May 1883
  • Edward C. Cahalin 18 Nov 1878
  • John Adair 1 Aug 1874
  • Ami P. Dennison 15 Sep 1870
  • Cyprus A. Reed 13 Nov 1862
  • Eli M. Barnum 18 Apr 1854
  • Asa L Lovejoy 27 December 1847