Illinois Army National Guard General To Retire After 33 Years

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Brig. Gen. Ronald Morrow with his wife Pam. Morrow will retire from the Illinois National Guard with 33 years of service Dec. 31, 2010.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/03/2010)(readMedia)-- After 33 years of military service Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Morrow, the Joint Force Headquarters-Illinois Assistant Adjutant General-Army, is scheduled to retire Dec. 31 from the Illinois National Guard. As Assistant Adjutant General, Morrow served as assistant to The Adjutant General in all matters pertaining to the management of the Illinois Army National Guard and its 10,000 Soldiers.

"My whole family was military," said Morrow. "So I felt like I needed to do my part and join."

Morrow enlisted in 1977 as a mechanic in Company B, 747th Maintenance Battalion in Champaign. He then commissioned in 1980 as an infantry officer through Officer Candidate School where he earned the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate Outstanding Academic Award. Morrow went on to become the commander of Company B along with several other positions throughout his career.

He previously served as the assistant to the Illinois Army National Guard Chief of Staff. Before that he was the maintenance officer for State Area Command and the 232nd Corps Support Battalion. He has also served as the 3637th Maintenance Company commander and the 65th Troop Command Brigade commander.

"Brig. Gen. Ronald Morrow has been a great ambassador for the Illinois Army National Guard for more than three decades," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "His leadership, his knowledge, and his professionalism have significantly impacted the Illinois Army National Guard to make it the strong and reliable force it is today."

From April 2006 to May 2007, Morrow deployed to Al Diwaniyeh, Iraq as the Deputy Chief of Staff-Support, Multi-National Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I couldn't have made it without a great family and exceptionally patient wife," said Morrow.

Morrow resides in Girard, Ill. with his wife Pam who works as a family readiness support assistant at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. They have six children and nine grandchildren, with two more on the way.

In his civilian career, Morrow is employed at the United States Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, Mich., where he is a supervisor for new equipment training. Morrow said he will continue working there after he retires from the Illinois National Guard.

Morrow's professional military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Support Operations Officer Course, Command and General Staff Officer Course and U.S. Army War College. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the Eastern Illinois University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois.

"I never limited myself and kept working as hard as I could," said Morrow to why he is where he is today.

Morrow's military awards and decorations include a Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, eight Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, and a Combat Action Badge among others.

His words of advice to young Soldiers is to "never limit yourself, work to the best of your ability and be qualified before the opportunity for advancement arises."

Morrow said he will miss the military but knows there are a lot of great officers following in his steps to take the Illinois Guard to the next level.

For high resolution photos, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil

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