Raymond F. Rees

Major General Raymond F. Rees is a retired United States Army Major General who served as the Adjutant General of Oregon and was Director of the Army National Guard and acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

As Adjutant General, Rees was responsible for providing the State of Oregon and the United States with a ready force of citizen soldiers and airmen, equipped and trained to respond to any contingency, natural or man made. He directed, managed, and supervised the administration, discipline, organization, training and mobilization of the Oregon National Guard, the Oregon State Defense Force, the Joint Force Headquarters and the Office of Oregon Emergency Management. He was also assigned as the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor. In these roles he developed and coordinated all policies, plans and programs of the Oregon National Guard in concert with the Governor and state legislature.

Early life
Raymond Frederick "Fred" Rees was born on September 29, 1944 in Helix, Oregon. He graduated from Helix High School in 1962 and the United States Military Academy in 1966, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Armor.

Start of military career
Rees completed Airborne and Ranger training, and was assigned as a platoon leader with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in West Germany. After completing several assignments, including two as commander of troops in the 2nd ACR, Rees went to Panama for Jungle warfare training.

Vietnam War
In December, 1968 Rees was assigned to Vietnam, serving as Assistant Training and Operations Officer (S3 Air) for 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division and commander of Troop D, 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry.

Post Vietnam War
After returning to the United States, Rees completed training as an Army Aviator. From March, 1972 to August, 1973 he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. From August to November, 1973 he was assigned to the United States Army Reserve Control Group.

Oregon National Guard
Upon leaving the active Army Rees joined the Oregon Army National Guard. He advanced through several command and staff positions of increasing rank and responsibility, including command of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment as a Captain and 3rd Squadron, 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment as a Lieutenant Colonel.

He also completed law school, practiced as an attorney for 18 months, and managed his family's farm.

From November, 1986 to May, 1987 he was commander of the 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment and was promoted to Colonel.

In May, 1987 Rees was appointed Adjutant General of Oregon, by then Governor Neil Goldschmidt, the first of four times Rees has served in this position. He served until June, 1991 and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1988 and Major General in 1990.

National Guard Bureau
From July, 1991 to August, 1992 Rees served as Director of the Army National Guard, succeeding Donald Burdick. In September, 1992 he was appointed Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, where he served until January, 1994. From January to July, 1994 Rees served as acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Return to Oregon
In August, 1994 Rees was again named Adjutant General of Oregon, by then Governor Barbara Roberts. During this appointment, his second, he served a five-year term, until March, 1999.

Return to National Guard Bureau
In March, 1999 Rees was appointed as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau for the second time, and he served until August, 2002. From August, 2002 to April, 2003 he was again acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau. From April to May 2003 he completed his assignment as the NGB Vice Chief.

Rees served as Chief of Staff for the United States Northern Command from May 2003 to June, 2005.

Third and fourth terms as Oregon Adjutant General
In July, 2005 Rees was appointed Adjutant General of Oregon for the third time.

Beginning in 2009, Rees commenced another four-year term as Adjutant General, serving under both Governors Ted Kulongoski and John Kitzhaber.

Rees' final tenure as Adjutant General was noteworthy for Oregon's increased participation in the State Partnership Program. In 2008 Oregon established a partnership with Bangladesh.

Oregon also established a partnership with Vietnam. During workshops and coordination meetings, Rees compared Vietnam War experiences with his counterparts in the Vietnam People's Army.

In 2012 Rees announced that he would retire the following year, and a search began for his successor. In January, 2013 Governor Kitzhaber announced that Rees would be succeeded by Daniel R. Hokanson when Rees retired on July 13, 2013.

Rees retired on July 13, 2013, with his 47 years of service surpassing the tenure of most full (four-star) generals. His retirement ceremony was attended by former Governor Kulongoski and General Frank J. Grass, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, who presented Rees with the Distinguished Service Medal. Rees' official retirement date is July 31, 2013

Education
In addition to his bachelor's degree from West Point, Rees completed his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Oregon School of Law in 1976. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College (1977) and the United States Army War College.

Awards and decorations

 * Defense Distinguished Service Medal
 * Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
 * Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
 * Defense Superior Service Medal
 * Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
 * Bronze Star Medal
 * Meritorious Service Medal (with Two Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Air Medal
 * Army Commendation Medal (with Two Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Air Force Commendation Medal
 * Army Achievement Medal
 * Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with Two Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * National Defense Service Medal (with Two Bronze Service Star)
 * Vietnam Service Medal (with Four Bronze Service Stars)
 * Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass Device)
 * Army Service Ribbon
 * Overseas Service Ribbon
 * United States Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
 * Vietnam Campaign Medal
 * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
 * Parachutist Badge
 * Army Aviator Badge
 * Ranger Tab
 * Joint Meritorious Unit Award
 * Army Superior Unit Award
 * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm)
 * Army Staff Identification Badge
 * Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
 * Oregon Distinguished Service Medal
 * Oregon Exceptional Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
 * Oregon 30 year Faithful Service Medal
 * Oregon Faithful Service Ribbon (Silver Hourglass Device)
 * Oregon National Guard Superior Unit Award

In 2007, Rees received the Raymond S. McLain Medal from the Association of the United States Army. On April 28, 2011 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Software Association of Oregon.

External resources

 * YouTube Video, Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees on Army Resiliency, Thomas Hovie, Oregon Military Department, 2010