Frank J. Grass (born 19 May 1951) is a retired United States Army general who served as the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Early life and education A native of Arnold, Missouri,Military Salute: Grass, Roth, Morse, Potter, Suburban Journals, St. Louis Today, 19 October 2010. Grass was born on 19 May 1951,U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Nomination of Frank J. Grass, 2012, page 681Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, entry for Frank J. Grass, Volume 1, accessed 30 December 2012.Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, entry for Frank J. Grass, Volume 2, accessed 30 December 2012. and graduated from Arnold's Fox High School in 1969.Fox High School, Yearbook, 1969, page 164. He joined the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969,U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs , USNORTHCOM Deputy Receives Third Star, U.S. Northern Command News Web Site, 4 October 2010. and served as an enlisted soldier and noncommissioned officer before graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1981 and receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the Engineer Corps.National Guard Association of the United States , Guardsman Nominated for NORTHCOM Post, published on National Guard Association of Michigan web site, 28 September 2010.
Military career While serving as a traditional member of the Army National Guard, Grass pursued a civilian career with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.National Guard Association of the United States, Senate Quickly Confirms New Bureau Leaders, National Guard magazine, August 2012, page 14. Grass served in a variety of command and staff positions, first as a traditional Army Guardsman, and later as a member of the Active Guard and Reserve program and on active duty. His command assignments included the 220th Engineer Company (1986 to 1988) and the 203rd Engineer Battalion (1997 to 1999).Association of Military Comptrollers , Professional Development Conference Program, 2006, pages 18–19.
After becoming a general officer in 2004, Grass' assignments included: Deputy Director, Army National Guard (2004 to 2006); Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters, United States European Command (2006 to 2008); Director of Operations, United States Northern Command (2008 to 2010); and Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command (2010 to 2012).National Guard Bureau , Biography, General Frank J. Grass, 2012.
In June 2012, Grass was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Chief of the National Guard Bureau, with appointment to the rank of general in the reserves of the army. The appointment and promotion were confirmed by the United States Senate on 26 July 2012.United States Senate , Senate Floor Log, 26 July 2012. Grass formally took over the National Guard Bureau in a ceremony on 7 September 2012.Army Times, General to Take Top Guard Job, Get 4th Star, 5 September 2012.U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, Panetta Hosts Chief Change For National Guard Bureau , Department of Defense Photo Essay, 7 September 2012. In 2016, the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Joseph L. Lengyel, was nominated to succeed Grass. Lengyel was promoted to general and completed a transfer of authority ceremony with Grass on 3 August 2016.
Education 1975, St. Louis Community College, Associate degree, Environmental Technology, St. Louis, Missouri 1985, Metropolitan State University, Bachelor of Science, Liberal Arts, St. Paul, Minnesota 1997, Southwest Missouri State University, Master of Science, Resource Planning, Springfield, Missouri 2000, National War College, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, Washington, D.C. 2006, National Defense University, CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, Washington, D.C.U.S. Northern Command , Biography, General Frank J. Grass, 2010.
Awards and decorations Parachutist Badge Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge Army Staff Identification Badge United States Army Corps of Engineers DUI
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)Defense Superior Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)Legion of MeritMeritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Army Superior Unit AwardArmy Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze service starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalArmed Forces Reserve Medal with gold Hourglass deviceArmy NCO Professional Development RibbonArmy Service RibbonArmy Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 2Danish Home Guard Meritorious Service MedalMissouri Conspicuous Service Medal, Missouri National GuardWashington Army National Guard Legion of Merit, State of Washington
Other achievements The Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal, The Army Engineer Association Honorable Order of St. Barbara, United States Field Artillery Association Distinguished Service Medal, National Guard Association of the United States On 30 April 2015, General Grass was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal of the Danish Home Guard by DHG commander Major General Finn WinklerGeneral Frank J. Grass presented with Danish award.
Chronological list of officer assignments September 1981 – October 1981, Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, 220th Engineer Company, Festus, Missouri October 1981 – February 1982, student, Engineer Officer Basic Course, Fort Belvoir, Virginia February 1982 – January 1984, Project Officer, United States Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, St. Paul, Minnesota January 1984 – November 1984, Platoon Leader, Company D, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington November 1984 – May 1985, Executive Officer, Company D, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington May 1985 – January 1986, Battalion Motor Officer, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington January 1986 – February 1986, United States Army Reserve Control Group, Unassigned, St. Louis, Missouri February 1986 – July 1986, S4, 880th Engineer Battalion, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri July 1986 – July 1988, Commander, 220th Engineer Company, Festus, Missouri July 1988 – July 1988, Civil Engineer, 35th Engineer Brigade, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri July 1988 – July 1991, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri July 1991 – June 1992, Student, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas June 1992 – July 1994, Engineer Exercise Project Officer, Headquarters, United States Army South, Fort Clayton, Panama July 1994 – July 1997, Chief, Exercise Section, Exercise Branch, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia July 1997 – July 1999, Commander, 203rd Engineer Battalion, Joplin, Missouri July 1999 – June 2000, student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, District of Columbia June 2000 – September 2003, Chief, Operations Division, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia September 2003 – April 2004, G-3, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia April 2004 – May 2006, deputy director, Army National Guard, Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia May 2006 – September 2008, Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany September 2008 – September 2010, Director of Operations, United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado September 2010 – September 2012, Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, ColoradoNational Guard Bureau Biography. September 2012 – August 2016, Chief, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
Effective dates of promotions + Promotions Insignia Rank DateSecond Lieutenant12 September 1981First Lieutenant19 April 1983Captain1 July 1985Major4 August 1990Lieutenant Colonel7 February 1995Colonel31 May 2000 Brigadier General2 April 2004Major General22 June 2006Lieutenant General 30 September 2010U.S. Northern Command BiographyGeneral 7 September 2012
References
External links
Army National Guard Official biography United States Northern Command biography C-Span Video, Senate Armed Services Cmte. Considers Military Nominations , 19 July 2012 , Video introduction as NGB Chief, 7 September 2012 Facebook page for General Grass, accessed 7 September 2012 The Pentagon Channel, National Guard Bureau Change of Responsibility, Video, 7 September 2012