BISMARCK, N.D. — Brig. Gen. David B. Anderson was promoted today to the rank of brigadier general at Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck. Promotions to general officer ranks are infrequent and reserved for only the highest leadership positions within the U.S. Military. In January, Anderson assumed command of the North Dakota National Guard’s Land Component Command (LCC), which is the Army component of the N.D. National Guard with more than 3,350 Soldiers assigned.

Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, presided over the promotion ceremony. “Anderson’s innovation and forward-thinking has been a continual asset to the North Dakota National Guard and I thank him for his continued service to our state and country,” he said. “He has made a tremendous impact mentoring Soldiers throughout his career and will serve well as the commander of our Army component of the North Dakota National Guard.”
Anderson, a native of Oakes, N.D., graduated from Oaks High School in 1974 and North Dakota State University (NDSU) with a Bachelor in Science Degree. He earned his commission as a 2nd lieutenant through the NDSU ROTC program and is a 2007 graduate of the U.S. Army War College, receiving a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. 

“I fully support the adjutant general’s number one priority of taking care of our Guard Members,” said Anderson. “I will work hard to ensure our Soldiers receive the best resources and training possible so that they can continue to provide outstanding support to our communities, state and nation.”

A traditional Guards Member who resides in Bismarck, Anderson has held a myriad of key positions with the Guard to include command of the Fargo, N.D., based 142nd Engineer Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment from 2003-2004. Previously, he was assigned as the Army Chief of Staff for the North Dakota National Guard from 2008 to 2011. His previous assignments include: platoon leader, detachment commander of Detachment 1, Company D, and Company Commander of Company C, 141st Engineer Battalion; operations officer, for the 231st Engineer Battalion, operations and executive officer for the 164th Engineer Combat Battalion, and executive officer and commander of the 142nd Engineer Battalion. 

“Leading the great Soldiers of the NDNG is both a huge responsibility and a tremendous opportunity,” Anderson said during his promotion.

The promotion ceremony was attended by many members of Anderson’s immediate family, several of which have military experience. Anderson’s eldest brother Tom Anderson is a Vietnam Veteran, and other members have a tie to military service to include his nephew, Jason Anderson, who will be commissioned a 2nd Lt. from the University of North Dakota’ ROTC program on May 12. Anderson’s other nephew, Brian, (Jason’s brother) is an active duty Army 2nd Lt. participating in Apache flight training at Ft. Rucker, Ala. Although Jason participated in the promotion ceremony, Brian was unable to attend due to class schedule.

Colonel Anderson’s awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award.  His state awards include the North Dakota Army National Guard Meritorious Service Medal, the North Dakota Army National Guard Commendation Ribbon, and the North Dakota Army National Guard Emergency Service Ribbon.

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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,800 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. About 70 percent of all members serving today have joined since that time. Currently, nearly 400 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while about 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.