Oregon Army Guard Officer Promoted to Brigadier General

A formal promotion celebration for Brigadier General Charles Yriarte will take place on Dec. 1st at 3:00 PM at the Anderson Readiness Center

Brigadier General Charles Yriarte Photo: OR National Guard

(SALEM) - Charles Yriarte was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in a ceremony held on October 26th of this year at the St. Charles Hospital In Bend, Ore. where his father was undergoing treatment. His official federal recognition was effective on Oct. 16, 2006. He will serve in the Duty Position of Deputy Commander for Oregon as well as Commander of 82 Brigade, Troop Command headquartered in Lake Oswego.

A formal promotion celebration for Brigadier General Charles Yriarte will take place on Dec. 1st at 3:00 PM at the Anderson Readiness Center located at 3225 State St. in Salem. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Yriarte served as Squadron Commander of the 3rd Battalion 116th Cavalry headquartered in La Grande, Oregon prior to commanding the 82 ROC of Lake Oswego and deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He was born in Burns, Oregon, on December 3, 1949. He enlisted in the Oregon Army National Guard on February 22, 1971. He served nine years as an enlisted soldier before graduating from the Idaho Military Academy in June 1980. Upon his commission as a second Lieutenant, he branched as an Armored Cavalry Officer.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Studies from Eastern Oregon State College in La Grande, Oregon and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advance Course, Armor Pre Command Course, Command and General Staff College and is a 2000 graduate of the United States Army War College.

Before Colonel Yriarte's selection as the 82 Brigade (TC) Commander, he served as the Director of Personnel at the Joint Force Headquarters in Salem, OR from June 2004 until February 2006.

In February 2003 Colonel Yriarte was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving first as the G3 of V Corps Kuwait from May 2003 until June 2003, and then as the Base Commander of LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq from June 2003 until April 2004.

Prior to his assignment as Commander of the 82 Rear Operations Center (ROC) in May of 2000, he served as the 82 Brigade (TC) Executive Officer and Operations Officer, Commander of the 3d Battalion 116th Cavalry and as the 3d Battalion 116 Cavalry Executive Officer, Operations and Training Officer, Logistics Officer, Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Commander of Troop L, Detachment Commander of Troop L, Executive Officer of Troop L, and Platoon Leader with Troop L, 3/116 ACR. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), the Army Achievement Medal (4th Award), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (7th Award), the National Defense Service Ribbon (3rd Award), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, the Overseas Combat Service Bar (2nd Award) and the Army Reserve Components Over Seas deployment Ribbon (5th Award) and the Combat Action Badge, Overseas Ribbon.

Colonel Yriarte is married to the former Christine Ruff of Hines, Oregon. They have two sons, Darren resides in Portland, OR., and Jamin resides in Fresno, CA, and one daughter Shelesha Kelso and her husband David reside in Wilsonville, OR. They make their home in Canyon City, Oregon. Colonel Yriarte is currently employed by the Joint Forces Headquarters located in Salem, Oregon.