Oregon National Guard Pilot Promoted to Brigadier General

Garry Dean is the first African American to attain the rank of brigadier general in the Oregon Air National Guard.

Colonel Garry Dean Photo: Oregon Guard

(SALEM) - The Oregon Air National Guard's Colonel Garry Dean will pin on the rank of brigadier general in a ceremony May 31st at 10:00 AM at the Oregon National Guard Headquarters.

Garry Dean is the first African American member of the Oregon Air National Guard to attain the rank of brigadier general.

Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard, will officiate the promotion ceremony.

Colonel Dean currently serves as the State Director of Operations in the Joint Force Headquarters - Air Component. He is responsible for evaluating the operational readiness of the Air Guard and their capability to mobilize and deploy in support of operations.

In addition he is responsible for guiding more than 2,100 members of the Oregon Air Guard in the state response to natural disasters and emergencies.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the Top Graduate from his Pilot Instructor Training course. He was also a Distinguished Graduate from Fighter Lead-In Training.

The colonel served in several positions and in several locations on active duty from 1978 to 1987, and he then served with the Georgia Air National Guard from 1987 to 1990. He joined the Oregon Guard in 1990 and has been with the organization since then.

Dean was the base commander of Portland's Air National Guard Base on September 11th, 2001 when the United States was attacked. The 142nd Fighter Wing, under Dean's command, was the first unit stateside to achieve 100% mission readiness in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

The Oregon Air Guard headquarters are located in Salem, Oregon.