New Duties for New York National Guard General Officer

Afghanistan Veteran to serve as New York Army National Guard Deputy Commander

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NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Brig. General Brian Balfe (far right) observes 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Soldiers in training here Oct. 8, 2011.

LATHAM, N.Y. (09/25/2013)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Brian K. Balfe, a Cornwall, N.Y. native and deputy division commander of the National Guard's historic 42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division, is newly reassigned to the New York National Guard Joint Force Headquarters.

Balfe will become the deputy commander of the New York Army National Guard, responsible for the training, mobilization readiness and domestic preparedness of more than 10,500 Army National Guard Citizen Soldiers across New York State. Balfe, who lives in Boston, Mass., has served as the deputy division commander since the summer of 2009.

The division headquarters includes more than 500 Soldiers and support staff that make up the 42nd Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, based in Troy, N.Y.

Balfe is a 1983 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He holds a 2003 Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

He is a graduate of the United States Army Airborne School, Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Multiple Launch Rocket System Cadre Course, TACFIRE Fire Support Course, Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, Electronic Warfare Staff Officers Course, Senior Transportation Officer Qualification Course, and the Infantry Pre-Command Course.

His active duty assignments include: Multiple Launch Rocket System Firing Platoon Leader, 8-inch Cannon Battery Fire Direction Officer and Composite-Battalion Fire Direction Officer, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; Battalion Liaison Officer and Battalion Logistics Officer, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Essayons, South Korea; Battalion Fire Support Officer, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, Ca. and Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII, Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Balfe has held multiple leadership and command positions since joining the New York Army National Guard in October 1990, including Battalion Fire Direction Officer, Battery Commander, Battalion Logistics Officer, Division Fire Support Officer, Division Fire Support Staff Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, Battalion Executive Officer, and twice Battalion Commander. Selected to command 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, he became the first Field Artillery Officer to command a New York Army National Guard infantry unit. Colonel Balfe also commanded 1st Battalion, 156th Field Artillery (Light), which he deployed to the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La. in August 2001.

In October 2001 he deployed a battalion task force to New York City in support of civil authorities following the attacks on the World Trade Center. A year later, Balfe was selected to command 106th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Camp Smith, N.Y. In April 2006, Balfe was selected as the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Commander. He continued in that role and assumed command of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII in April 2008 through the end of December that same year.

Balfe last served as the Deputy Commanding General for the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, N.Y. where he was responsible for the training of 12,000 Army National Guard Soldiers in five states. He was also responsible for leading the division's National Guard Homeland Response Team which would deploy in New York and New Jersey in the event of an emergency or terrorist incident.

Balfe's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hour Glass and "M" Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, ISAF Non-Article 5 NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and French National Defense Medal-Gold Award. Balfe is also the recipient of the Order of Saint Barbara.