Major General Blake C. Ortner, ARNG Military Executive/Board Member

Major General Blake C. Ortner recently served as the Commander, 29th Infantry Division, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver, 29th Infantry Division, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.

General Ortner is as 1983 graduate of University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., where he received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. He also holds a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College Class of 2010.

He received a Regular Army commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps as an Infantry officer and served on active duty until 1987. In 1989, General Ortner joined the Virginia Army National Guard, serving in numerous assignments during more than 20 years in the 116th Infantry Regiment and 29th Infantry Division to include rifle company commander, battalion operations officer, battalion commander, brigade operations officer, brigade executive officer, brigade deputy commander, brigade commander and division operations officer. In 2001, General Ortner served as the Division Chief of Operations, Multi-National Division – North as part of the 29th Infantry Division support of Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovinian.

General Ortner commanded 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Infantry Regiment and deployed the battalion in 2004 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the first Virginia National Guard infantry battalion to deploy to combat since World War II. In 2007, General Ortner was assigned as the deputy commander of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a member of the Multi-National Forces – Iraq Area Support Group and later as the chief of operations for MNF-I. He assumed command of the 116th IBCT in June 2009. In May 2011 the brigade headquarters was mobilized for combat operations in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom where he commanded Combined Team Zabul which included active duty and NATO Romanian infantry battalions. In Novermber 2016 the 29th Infantry Division headquarters was mobilized to establish the first division headquarters for Operation Spartan Shield under Army Central in Kuwait. General Ortner was responsible for 5 brigades of Army Active, Reserve and National Guard brigades with forces in 10 countries including Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

He resides in Stafford and is employed by Paralyzed Veterans of America in Washington, D.C., as the Deputy Government Relations Director working with Congress to support veterans benefits and healthcare services.

SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE: ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - BA - International Relations
U.S. Army War College - MS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED

  • Joint & Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) JPME-II
  • United States Army War College
  • Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar
  • Enabling Mission Command Workshop (EMCW)
  • George C. Marshall Center, Senior Executive Seminar
  • Interim Guard Senior Leader Training (IGSLT)
  • Army Senior Leader Development Program-Basic (ASLDP-B)
  • Army Strategic Education Program - Advanced (ASEP-A)
  • Army Strategic Education Program - Command (ASEP-C)
  • CAPSTONE

PROMOTIONS DATES OF APPOINTMENT   
2LT (AC) 11 Jun 83
1LT (AC) 25 Nov 84
CPT (AC)                        1 Jun 87
CPT (ARNG) 7 Nov 89
MAJ (ARNG) 5 Aug 98
LTC (ARNG) 7 Aug 03
COL (ARNG) 3 Aug 07
BG (ARNG) 15 Jan 14
MG (ARNG) 7 Dec 16

 

 

FROM

TO

ASSIGNMENT

Apr 18

Present Military Executive Officer/Board Member, Reserve Forces Policy Board, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC
Jul 17  Mar 18 Commander, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Dec 16

Jul 17

Commander, TF SPARTAN, 29th Infantry Division, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

Jul 15

Dec 16

Commander, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Nov 14

Jul 15

Assistant Division Commander- Maneuver (ADC-M), 29th Infantry Division, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Jun 13

Nov 14

Commander, Land Component Command, Sandston, Virginia

Apr 12

Jun 13

Plans, Operations and Training Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters Virginia, Virginia Army National Guard, Blackstone, Virginia

Jan 12

Mar 12

Commander, Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Virginia Army National Guard, Staunton, Virginia

May 11

Dec 11

Commander, Combined Task Force Zabul, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Combined Joint Task Force 10, Qalat, Afghanistan

Apr 09

May 11

Commander, Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Virginia Army National Guard, Staunton, Virginia

May 08

Mar 09

Deputy Commander, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Virginia Army National Guard, Staunton, Virginia

Nov 07

May 08

Chief, Current Operations - Night, Multi-National Force-Iraq Strategic Operations, Baghdad, Iraq

Jul 07

Nov 07

Deputy Commander, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Joint Area Support Group-Central Command, Virginia Army National Guard, Baghdad, Iraq

Mar 07

Jun 07

Deputy Commander, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Virginia Army National Guard, Staunton, Virginia

Mar 06

Feb 07

Executive Officer, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Virginia Army National Guard, Staunton, Virginia

Jul 05

Feb 06

Battalion Commander, Headquarters Headquarters 3d Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, Winchester, Virginia

Jul 04

Jul 05

Battalion Commander, 3d 116th Infantry Battalion, Task Force Normandy, Combined Joint Task Force Thunder, Virginia Army National Guard, Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan

Sep 02

Jun 04

Battalion Commander, Headquarters Headquarters 3d Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, Winchester, Virginia

Jun 02

Aug 02

Executive Officer, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry, Virginia Army National Guard, Lynchburg, Virginia

Aug 01

May 02

Chief, G-3 Operations, 29th Infantry Division, Multinational Division (North), Task Force Eagle, NATO Stabilization Force-10, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Nov 00

Aug 01

Chief, G-3 Operations, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 29th Infantry Division Light, Virginia Army National Guard, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Dec 99

Oct 00

Battalion S-3, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 116 Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, Lynchburg, Virginia

Sep 97

Nov 99

Operations Officer, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 29th Infantry Division Light, Virginia Army National Guard, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Aug 92

Sep 97

Assistant Plans Officer, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 29th Infantry Division Light, Virginia Army National Guard, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Apr 91

Jul 92

Company Commander, Company C, 1st Battalion, 170th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division Light, Virginia Army National Guard, Leesburg, Virginia

Nov 89

Mar 91

Assistant S-3 Air, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 2d Brigade, 29th Infantry Division Light, Virginia Army National Guard, Bowling Green, Virginia

Sep 87

Oct 89

Inactive Ready Reserve

Feb 87

Sep 87

Battalion S-1 Officer, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington

Dec 85

Feb 87

Platoon Leader, Company C, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington

Sep 84

Dec 85

Scout Platoon Leader, Combat Support Company, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington

Oct 83

Sep 84

Platoon Leader, Company C, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington

 

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

 

DATE

GRADE

Military Executive Officer/Board Member, Reserve Forces Policy Board, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC       Apr 18 - Present Major General

Commander, Combined Task Force Zabul, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Combined Joint Task Force 10, Qalat, Afghanistan

 

May 11 - Dec 11

Colonel

Chief, G-3 Operations, 29th Infantry Division, Multinational Division (North), Task Force Eagle, NATO Stabilization Force-10, Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

Jul 04 - Jul 05

Lieutenant Colonel

Chief, G-3 Operations, 29th Infantry Division, Multinational Division (North),
Task Force Eagle, NATO Stabilization Force-10, Bosnia-Herzegovina

  Aug 01 - May 02 Major

 

 

 

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

 

DATE

GRADE

Commander, TF SPARTAN, 29th Infantry Division, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

 

Dec 16 - Jul 17

Major General

Commander, Combined Task Force Zabul, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Combined Joint Task Force 10, Qalat, Afghanistan

 

May 11 - Dec 11

Colonel

Chief, Current Operations - Night, Multi-National Force-Iraq Strategic Operations, Baghdad, Iraq

 

Nov 07 - May 08

Colonel

Deputy Commander, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Joint Area Support Group-Central Command, Virginia Army National Guard, Baghdad, Iraq

 

Jul 07 - Nov 07

Colonel

Battalion Commander, 3d 116th Infantry Battalion, Task Force Normandy, Combined Joint Task Force Thunder, Virginia Army National Guard, Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan

 

Jul 04 - Jul 05

Lieutenant Colonel

Chief, G-3 Operations, 29th Infantry Division, Multinational Division (North), Task Force Eagle, NATO Stabilization Force-10, Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

Aug 01 - May 02

Major

 

 

 

 

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Legion of Merit
  • Bronze Star Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Joint Service Commendation Medal
  • Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star Device)
  • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
  • Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
  • Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, "M" Device, and Numeral 2)
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 5)
  • Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon
  • NATO Medal
  • Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation
  • Ranger Tab
  • Combat Action Badge
  • Combat Infantry Badge
  • Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
  • Parachutist Badge
  • Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Deputy Government Relations Director for Paralyzed Veterans of America located in Washington, D.C. General Ortner is responsible for Federal legislation and government relations, as well as budget analysis and appropriations, pertaining to veteran's benefits and services provided to veterans. He represents Paralyzed Veterans of America by preparing testimony and testifying to both House and Senate Committees regarding veterans' issues and proposed legislation.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Virginia Army National Guard Officer's Association
  • Army War College Alumni Association
  • Association of the United States Army

 

As of: 20 May 2019

Major General Blake C. Ortner

Major General Blake C. Ortner