Oregon National Guard General Receives the McLain Medal

Rees graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1962 and is a Vietnam veteran.

Photo: Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees receives the Lt. Gen. Raymond S. McClain Medal, Oct. 8th during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington D.C. Rees recieved the medal for his outstanding contributions to the Army throughout his career.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard, received a prestigious honor when he was awarded the Lt. Gen. Raymond S. McLain Medal for his outstanding contributions to the Army.

Rees accepted the medal in front of 31,000 guests during the opening ceremony of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. on October 8th.

The citation reads in part:

As the Adjutant General for the State of Oregon, and throughout his distinguished career as a citizen-soldier , General Rees has been a dynamic, driving force behind the successful integration of the Army National Guard as a vital part of the United States Army.

Displaying superior skills during periods of change and transformation over four decades of service, General Rees has employed innovative leadership techniques to ensure the National Guard units are available to provide the critical manpower necessary for participation in joint military operations in a seamless environment.

The McLain Medal is given annually to a member of the National Guard for outstanding contributions to the AUSA's goal of a seamless and component-integrated Army.

Rees has been Oregon's adjutant general since 2005 and has served in that position for two other periods in the past – 1987 to 1991 and 1994 to 1999.

General Rees in Afghanistan last year during an interview with Salem-News.com's reporter Tim King

During his career as a citizen-soldier, he has served the Guard in a variety of key leadership positions including acting chief of the National Guard Bureau for more than 14 months during 2002 and 2003, and director of the Army National Guard for more than a year in the early 1990s.

Rees has twice served as vice chief of staff for the National Guard Bureau and was chief of staff for U.S. Northern Command and NORAD from May 2003 to June 2005.

"These assignments afforded him unique opportunities and influence regarding the ‘One Army' concept,' wrote Brig. Gen. Norm Hoffman, USA, Ret., president of the Association's Columbia River Chapter, in Rees' nomination.

Rees graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1962 and is a Vietnam veteran.
Source: Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office