Frank J. Grass
Frank J. Grass (born May 19, 1951) is a former United States Army general who served as the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau. Early life and education. A native of Arnold, Missouri, Grass was born on May 19, 1951, and graduated from Arnold's Fox High School in 1969. He joined the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969, and served as an enlisted soldier and noncommissioned officer before graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1981 and receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. Career. While serving as a traditional member  of the Army National Guard, Grass pursued a civilian career with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Grass served in a variety of command and staff positions, first as a traditional Army Guardsman, and later as a member of the Active Guard and Reserve program and on active duty. His command assignments included the 220th Engineer Company (1986 to 1988) and the 203rd Engineer Battalion (1997 to 1999). Since becoming a general officer in 2004, Grass' assignments have included: Deputy Director, Army National Guard (2004 to 2006); Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters, United States European Command (2006  to 2008); Director of Operations, United States Northern Command (2008 to 2010); and Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command (2010 to 2012). In June 2012, Grass was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Chief of the National Guard Bureau, with appointment to the rank of general in the reserves of the Army. The appointment and promotion were confirmed by the United States Senate on July 26, 2012. Grass formally took over the National Guard Bureau in a ceremony on September 7, 2012. In 2016, the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Joseph L. Lengyel, was nominated to  succeed Grass. Lengyel was promoted to general and completed a transfer of authority ceremony with Grass on August 3, 2016.