Raymond F . Rees Major General Raymond F . Rees is a retired United States Army Major General who served as the Adjutant General of Oregon and was Director of the Army National Guard and acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau . As Adjutant General , Rees was responsible for providing the State of Oregon and the United States with a ready force of citizen soldiers and airmen , equipped and trained to respond to any contingency , natural or man made . He directed , managed , and supervised the administration , discipline , organization , training and mobilization of the Oregon National Guard , the Oregon State Defense Force , the Joint Force Headquarters and the Office of Oregon Emergency Management . He was also assigned as the Governor ’ s Homeland Security Advisor . In these roles he developed and coordinated all policies , plans and programs of the Oregon National Guard in concert with the Governor and state legislature . Early life . Raymond Frederick " Fred " Rees was born on September 29 , 1944 in Helix , Oregon . He graduated from Helix High School in 1962 and the United States Military Academy in 1966 , and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Armor . Start of military career . Rees completed Airborne and Ranger training , and was assigned as a platoon leader with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in West Germany . After completing several assignments , including two as commander of troop s in the 2nd ACR , Rees went to Panama for Jungle warfare training . Vietnam War . In December , 1968 Rees was assigned to Vietnam , serving as Assistant Training and Operations Officer ( S3 Air ) for 2nd Battalion , 17th Cavalry Regiment , 101st Airborne Division and commander of Troop D , 2nd Battalion , 17th Cavalry . Post Vietnam War . After returning to the United States , Rees completed training as an Army Aviator . From March , 1972 to August , 1973 he was assigned to 1st Battalion , 17th Cavalry Regiment , 82nd Airborne Division . From August to November , 1973 he was assigned to the United States Army Reserve Control Group . Oregon National Guard . Upon leaving the active Army Rees joined the Oregon Army National Guard . He advanced through several command and staff positions of increasing rank and responsibility , including command of Company C , 2nd Battalion , 162nd Infantry Regiment as a Captain and 3rd Squadron , 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment as a Lieutenant Colonel . He also completed law school , practiced as an attorney for 18 months , and managed his family ' s farm . From November , 1986 to May , 1987 he was commander of the 116th Armored Cavalry Regiment and was promoted to Colonel . In May , 1987 Rees was appointed Adjutant General of Oregon , by then Governor Neil Goldschmidt , the first of four times Rees has served in this position . He served until June , 1991 and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1988 and Major General in 1990 . National Guard Bureau . From July , 1991 to August , 1992 Rees served as Director of the Army National Guard , succeeding Donald Burdick . In September , 1992 he was appointed Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau , where he served until January , 1994 . From January to July , 1994 Rees served as acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau . Return to Oregon . In August , 1994 Rees was again named Adjutant General of Oregon , by then Governor Barbara Roberts . During this appointment , his second , he served a five - year term , until March , 1999 . Return to National Guard Bureau . In March , 1999 Rees was appointed as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau for the second time , and he served until August , 2002 . From August , 2002 to April , 2003 he was again acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau . From April to May 2003 he completed his assignment as the NGB Vice Chief . Rees served as Chief of Staff for the United States Northern Command from May 2003 to June , 2005 . Third and fourth terms as Oregon Adjutant General . In July , 2005 Rees was appointed Adjutant General of Oregon for the third time . Beginning in 2009 , Rees commenced another four - year term as Adjutant General , serving under both Governors Ted Kulongoski and John Kitzhaber . Rees ' final tenure as Adjutant General was noteworthy for Oregon ' s increased participation in the State Partnership Program . In 2008 Oregon established a partnership with Bangladesh . Oregon also established a partnership with Vietnam . During workshops and coordination meetings , Rees compared Vietnam War experiences with his counterparts in the Vietnam People ' s Army . In 2012 Rees announced that he would retire the following year , and a search began for his successor . In January , 2013 Governor Kitzhaber announced that Rees would be succeeded by Daniel R . Hokanson when Rees retired on July 13 , 2013 . Rees retired on July 13 , 2013 , with his 47 years of service surpassing the tenure of most full ( four - star ) generals . His retirement ceremony was attended by former Governor Kulongoski and General Frank J . Grass , the Chief of the National Guard Bureau , who presented Rees with the Distinguished Service Medal . Rees ' official retirement date is July 31 , 2013 Education . In addition to his bachelor ' s degree from West Point , Rees completed his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Oregon School of Law in 1976 . He is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College ( 1977 ) and the United States Army War College . Awards and decorations . In 2007 , Rees received the Raymond S . McLain Medal from the Association of the United States Army . On April 28 , 2011 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Software Association of Oregon .