Alabama Guard Adjutant General Retires

MONTGOMERY, AL (01/16/2011)(readMedia)-- After nearly 40 years as an Army officer and 35 years in the Alabama National Guard, Maj. Gen. Abner C. Blalock will retire January 17, 2011. Blalock's latest assignment was as the highest ranking officer in the Alabama National Guard, the Adjutant General.

Prior to his time as Adjutant General, Blalock retired from a long career at Bellsouth Telecommunications. Blalock was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army in 1971 after completing ROTC at Virginia Military Institute and Auburn University, and joined the Alabama National Guard in 1976. He served in various staff positions and commanded at every level of organization from Infantry Company to Theater level, including the 167th Theater Sustainment Command.

Under Maj. Gen. Blalock's leadership as Adjutant General, the Alabama National Guard deployed more than 5,200 Soldiers and Airmen in support of the war on terrorism. On his watch, while serving the state of Alabama, the National Guard responded to hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms and the largest oil spill in United States history. Serving homeland security needs, the Alabama Guard assisted with the 2009 presidential inauguration, California wildfire response and the border security mission.

Blalock also oversaw the largest Alabama National Guard force structure transformation since World War II as the National Guard became an operational force. Major events include the development of the Premobilization Training and Assessment Element; Chemical Enhanced Response Force Package; and Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, high-yield Explosive Consequence Management Response Force. Throughout his tenure, the Alabama National Guard added equipment such as the Lakota helicopter, tactical unmanned aerial vehicle, and many other systems to support state and federal missions. Other programs initiated under his leadership include the 117th Air Refueling Wing active associate unit total force initiative; the upgrade of many armories across the state; and the building of several new National Guard facilities.