Photo By Jonathan Haugen | Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, right, presents Brig....... read more read more
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s Army Component Command welcomed a new leader today after wishing a former commander well upon his retirement. Brig. Gen. David Anderson was honored with a formal retirement ceremony in front of friends, family and fellow Guardsmen after handing off duties to Col. Robert Fode during a change of command ceremony at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck. The ACC of the North Dakota National Guard is assigned more than 3,350 North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers.
“Brig. Gen. Anderson has served with great distinction throughout his 33-year career. His leadership has been exceptional, and he has made a tremendous impact on our organization by leading Soldiers and mentoring junior leaders,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. “I know that our Guardsmen will continue to be in good hands with Col. Fode. He brings a wealth of experience, which will serve him and our Solders well as he helps lead the N.D. Army National Guard into the future.”
Anderson has commanded the ACC since January 2012. He has held a number of leadership positions in engineer units throughout the North Dakota Army National Guard over the span of his more than 30-year career. A native of Oakes, N.D., he began his military service in 1981, when he commissioned as a second lieutenant through North Dakota State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. He’s served as a detachment commander and company commander within the 141st Engineer Battalion; operations officer for the 231st Engineer Battalion and operations officer and executive officer for the 164th Engineer Combat Battalion. Anderson also was the executive officer and, later, commanded the 142nd Engineer Battalion, which he led overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003-2004.
Anderson also has worked full-time for the organization since 1990. That year, he accepted a position as an environmental protection specialist. He also has held positions as the deputy director of the Facilities Engineering Office and director of the Camp Grafton Training Center. In 2005, he became the director of the Facilities Engineering Office until 2007, when he was appointed as vice chief of joint staff operations for the N.D. National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters. Anderson later served as the organization’s Army chief of staff and, subsequently, was appointed commander of the ACC.
“I’ve truly been blessed to have had so many opportunities and experiences throughout my career in the N.D. National Guard,” Anderson said. “Working full time for the organization was a job I enjoyed every day. But, I could not have been successful without the support of my family and the dedication of the great Soldiers I’ve had the privilege to serve with.”
During the retirement ceremony, Anderson was awarded the Legion of Merit and the North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal. He has earned a number of other military awards throughout his career, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (five awards), Iraq Campaign Medal (with two Bronze Service Stars) and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
As Anderson retired, Fode accepted duties as the new ACC commander and addressed the Soldiers and family members in attendance.
“It is because of you [family, friends and Soldiers] that I’m standing here today,” he said. “Thank you for your trust and confidence in my abilities. Together, we will move the organization forward to achieve our goals and objectives and build upon our successes.”
Fode also has a more than three-decade-long career in the military. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1978 as a truck driver. In 1985, he attended Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a second lieutenant as an engineer officer in the North Dakota Army National Guard. Fode has held a number of leadership positions throughout his career, including serving as a platoon leader, executive officer and commander within units of the 164th Engineer Combat Battalion.
Additionally, he has served as the operations officer for the 142nd Engineer Combat Battalion. He commanded the 141st Engineer Combat Battalion from December 2003 – February 2005 during that unit’s deployment to Iraq. He mobilized again for a NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo in 2009, serving as the deputy commander, Multinational Battle Group East with Kosovo Forces (KFOR) 12. Prior to accepting his new position, Fode has served as the director of Joint Staff for the North Dakota. National Guard.
As a traditional Guardsman, Fode is employed by the N.D. Department of Transportation. He has worked for the agency since 1993 and currently is assigned as the director for the Officer of Project Development.
| Date Taken: | 04.13.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.13.2014 17:50 |
| Story ID: | 125725 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, ND, US |
| Hometown: | OAKES, ND, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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