Major General Walter T. Lord is the Military Executive, Reserve Forces Policy Board, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC. The Reserve Forces Policy Board serves as an independent adviser to the Secretary of Defense, providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary on strategies, policies, and practices designed to improve and enhance the capabilities, efficiency and effectiveness of the Reserve components. He was recommended by the chair and designated by the Secretary of Defense, serving as both the military adviser to the chair and as military executive officer for the Reserve Forces Policy Board. He also supervises the operations and staff of the Board.

He was most recently a Special Assistant to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau. His primary responsibility was to orchestrate the National Guard Bureau effort in contributing to the Secretary of Defense's 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review. In leading the National Guard Bureau QDR team, he represented the NGB Chief and Vice Chief and conveyed the National Guard's position at meetings and working sessions with key leaders in the Department of Defense, Joint Staff, Military Services, and the Army and Air National Guard.

General Lord was commissioned in 1984 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College. Prior to receiving his commission, General Lord enlisted in 2nd Battalion, 111th Infantry in 1982 at the age of 17. He served his initial company grade assignments with 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment in Philadelphia.

General Lord has led at the platoon, company, squadron, and coalition headquarters levels. He has held critical army and joint staff positions at every level from unit to coalition in the Continental United States, Germany, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Afghanistan. General Lord has participated in two dual-status Joint Task Forces with United States Northern Command, serving as Chief of Staff, Joint Task Force-G20 in support of the G20 World Economic Summit in Pittsburgh, and Title 32 Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force-National Scout Jamboree in support of the 100th Anniversary National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia.

EDUCATION:

1986 LaSalle University, Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1996 United States Naval War College, Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Newport, Rhode Island 2005 United States Army War College, by Correspondence 2005 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle, Barracks, Pennsylvania 2011 United States Northern Command/National Guard Bureau, Contingency Dual Status Commander Qualification Program, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado 2011 George C. Marshall Center Senior Executive Seminar, Garmisch, Germany 2011 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defense College, Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course, Rome, Italy 2014 National Defense University, CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, Washington, DC 2015 Joint Forces Staff College, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Norfolk, VA

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. July 1984 - January 1985, Assistant S1, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 28th Infantry Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. January 1985 - October 1986, Cavalry Platoon Leader, Troop C, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 28th Infantry Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3. October 1986 - March 1987, Tank Platoon Leader, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 28th Infantry Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. March 1987 - December 1988, Executive Officer, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 28th Infantry Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5. December 1988 - August 1990, Executive Officer, Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 28th Infantry Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6. August 1990 - June 1992, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, Indiana, Pennsylvania
7. June 1992 - January 1994, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. January 1994 - July 1995, Special Actions Officer (Executive Officer), Army Logistics Directorate, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
9. July 1995 - July 1996, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, Rhode Island
10. July 1996 - July 1998, Plans, Policy and Training Officer, United States European Command J5, Stuttgart, Germany
11. July 1998 - March 2000, United States Liaison Officer, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Partnership for Peace Coordination Cell & Deputy U.S. National Military Representative, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Mons, Belgium
12. March 2000 - July 2001, Regional Coordinator (European Branch Chief), International Affairs Division, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
13. July 2001 - July 2002, G5, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 28th Infantry Division, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
14. July 2002 - April 2003, G5, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 28th Infantry Division, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
15. April 2003 - May 2003, G1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 28th Infantry Division, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
16. May 2003 - May 2005, Commander, 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry (Recon, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition), 56th Stryker Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, Reading, Pennsylvania
17. May 2005 - March 2006, Assistant Chief of Staff - G3, Headquarters, 28th Infantry Division, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
18. March 2006 - April 2008, Chief of Staff, Pennsylvania Joint Force Headquarters, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Annville, Pennsylvania
19. April 2008 - November 2008, Senior Mentor/Director, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, Afghan Senior Command and Staff College, Kabul, Afghanistan
20. November 2008 - June 2009, Chief, Joint Staff, Pennsylvania Joint Force Headquarters, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Annville, Pennsylvania
21. June 2009 - February 2011, Deputy Commanding General-Support, 28th Infantry Division, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
22. February 2011 - June 2012, Assistant Division Commander-Maneuver, 28th Infantry Division, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
23. June 2012 - July 2013, Commander & Senior NATO Military Representative, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
24. July 2013 - Oct 2014 Special Assistant to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia
25. Oct 2014 - Present, Military Executive Officer, Reserve Forces Policy Board, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Bronze Star Medal
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Air Force Commendation Medal
• Army Achievement Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
• National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Afghanistan 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 3)
• Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 3)
• French Commemorative Medal
• European Union European Security and Defense Policy Service Medal - Althea 2nd Award
• Hungarian for the Alliance Service Medal
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff Identification Badge
• Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
• Army Staff Identification Badge
• Combat Service Identification Badge

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

• Valley Forge Military Academy and College Board of Trustees
• Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum Board of Directors
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• American Legion
• National Guard Association of the United States
• Association of the United States Army
• United States Cavalry and Armor Association

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Order of Saint George, Silver Medallion
• Gilded Combat Spurs

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

• Second Lieutenant 02 June 1984
• First Lieutenant 22 May 1987
• Captain 21 June 1989 Major 11 January 1994
• Lieutenant Colonel 18 August 1999
• Colonel 17 August 2004
• Brigadier General 05 August 2010
• Major General 15 October 2014    

(Current as of Sep 2016)