‘Join the National Guard’ for family, says Oregon’s newest general
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Russell Gibson first raised his right hand in 1987 as a Navy Reserve hospital corpsman. Nearly four decades later, his wife, Cindy, pinned a brigadier general’s star on his uniform.
Gibson, assistant adjutant general for the Oregon Army National Guard, was promoted to brigadier general during a ceremony at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Reserve Center in Clackamas, Ore., Oct. 17, 2026. Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, the Adjutant General, Oregon, hosted the ceremony and administered the oath of office. The promotion took effect Aug. 1, 2026.
“A promotion to general officer is unlike any other promotion in our profession,” Gronewold said. “Fewer than 1% of commissioned officers will ever wear a star.”
Gronewold said the one-star flag presented during the ceremony carries a different kind of responsibility than any earlier promotion.
“The red flag with the single white star that you see today does not belong to a unit,” Gronewold said. “It belongs to the officer, and with it comes responsibility for the whole enterprise: our people, our resources, our partnerships, and the trust of the Oregonians that we serve.”
Gibson’s path to the rank was not a typical one. Before commissioning, he served as a Navy medic. He later taught high school chemistry and biology in Glendale, Arizona, and worked as an environmental consultant in Colorado.
“Russ, your path to this day was not a straight line,” Gronewold said. “Anyone who stood in front of a classroom of teenagers has learned patience and learns that people will follow you farther when you explain the why.”
Gibson commissioned through the Arizona Military Academy in 2000. In 2003, he led a platoon of the Arizona Army National Guard’s 220th Military Police Company in Tallil, Iraq. After moving to Oregon, he joined the Engineer Regiment, commanded at the company level, and returned to combat in 2011 as operations officer for the 1249th Engineer Battalion in Afghanistan. He went on to command the 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion, the 82nd Tactical Support Detachment and the 82nd Troop Command Brigade.
Gibson has also worked full time for the Oregon Military Department since 2006. He now serves as deputy director of state operations and government affairs and is president of the Oregon National Guard Association.
Gronewold charged Gibson with the standard he sets for every leader in the Oregon National Guard: be connected, be competent and be committed. He said a general officer’s most important relationships are often with legislators, community leaders and federal partners.
“Continue to bring the voices of our Soldiers and Airmen into the rooms where decisions about them are being made,” Gronewold said.
Gronewold also urged Gibson to invest in the next generation of leaders.
“Find the lieutenants, the sergeants, the warrant officers and the young Airmen who will one day stand where you are, and invest in them deliberately,” Gronewold said. “That is the real charge that comes with this star.”
The ceremony followed general officer traditions. Gronewold presented Gibson with his general officer belt and buckle. Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Martin presented his sidearm, and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Bertilson presented his one-star flag. Both noncommissioned officers served as Gibson’s senior enlisted leaders when he commanded the 82nd Troop Command Brigade. The 234th Army Band performed the ruffles and flourishes and the general’s march.
“Flags and issuing weapons, that’s NCO business,” Gibson said. “Those two NCOs mean an awful lot to me.” Gibson thanked what he called three overlapping families: family by blood, family by choice and family by service. He described military service that runs through generations on both sides of his and Cindy’s families, including relatives who served in the Army and Navy.
Gibson said the Guard’s bonds set it apart from the other services.
“If you want to learn what it means to be part of a team, you can join any branch of service,” Gibson said. “But if you want to be part of a family, join the National Guard.”
He said Guard members serve alongside the same people for decades, whether they see them every day or once a month at drill, and over time those relationships become family.
Oregon National Guard members serve part time, typically one weekend a month and two weeks a year, while maintaining civilian careers. They stand ready to respond to state emergencies such as wildfires and floods, while also training to defend the nation when called to federal service. Guard members live and work in the same communities they serve, creating a unique connection between military service and local communities.
Gibson closed by describing the promotion as neither a finish line nor a starting line, but a continuation of service that began almost 40 years ago. He shared the personal motto he has lived by: “You can’t lose if you don’t quit.”
“All you have to do to win is never give up,” Gibson said. “So, ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, never give up.”
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