Photo By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Zeames | U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Bradley Frank, the new deputy commanding general for support for...... read more read more
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BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York Army National Guard Col. Bradley Frank, a West Valley resident and veteran of the Iraq War, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general during an Aug. 15 ceremony at the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, N.Y.
Frank will serve as the deputy commanding general for support for the 42nd Infantry Division. He previously served as commander of the Syracuse-based 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, leading 4,000 Soldiers. He earned his commission from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2002.
Maj. Gen. Jack James, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, presided over the ceremony and praised Frank for his character and leadership.
“I can personally testify to his strength of character, leadership, tenacity, and grit demonstrated as operations officer of the 42nd Infantry Division during two grueling warfighters,” James said.
“Brad is someone who gets stuff done, and he gets it done the right way,” he added "I can’t think of anyone more highly qualified for the role of deputy commanding general of this storied division.”
The 42nd Infantry Division traces its lineage back to World War I, when it mobilized in August 1917 and arrived in France that November. Dubbed the "Rainbow Division”, it entered the front lines in March 1918 and remained in contact with the enemy for 174 days before concluding its wartime service in May 1919.
During World War II, division Soldiers liberated the Dachau concentration camp. In 2004 and 2005, the division headquarters deployed to Iraq, commanding more than 20,000 troops.
Most recently, the division headquarters returned from an 11-month deployment to the Middle East from 2025 to 2026, serving as the higher headquarters for 10,000 Army troops operating across the region in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Epic Fury.
Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, administered the oath of office and highlighted the significance of reaching the general officer ranks.
“In the New York Army National Guard, we’re a force of 12,024 Soldiers. Of those 12,024 Soldiers, 118 are lieutenant colonels, 32 are colonels, and three are brigadier generals,” Shields said. “If you think about the pyramid that Brad has just been promoted on, it is a huge accomplishment.”
“I’ve been overly impressed with Brad over the years, and I’m just so happy that I could be here today to participate in his promotion ceremony,” Shields added. “You’ve done a tremendous job, Brad, and I know you’ll continue to focus on our Soldiers.”
As deputy commanding general for support, Frank is responsible for sustainment, logistics operations, and the coordination of division support elements. Headquartered in Troy, the 42nd Infantry Division includes 5,400 Soldiers and aligned units across several other states, serving as one of eight division headquarters in the Army National Guard.
In his remarks, Frank expressed gratitude to senior leaders for their continued trust and mentorship.
“I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful for the trust New York’s senior leadership has placed in me,” Frank said. “To Gen. Shields, Gen. James, and all those who have guided, mentored, and supported my nomination and service over the years, thank you.”
“I accept this promotion and the responsibilities that come with it with a solemn sense of duty and a clear-eyed understanding of the weight of this new mantle of leadership,” he added.
Frank also thanked his family for their unwavering support throughout his career.
“Krista, Henry, Jacob, and Isaac, you have been my rock through late nights, missed holidays, weeks and months away, and the relentless demands of command,” Frank said.
“None of what I have been able to accomplish across 20-plus years of service, three combat deployments, state activations, and command would have been possible without the unwavering support of my family,” he explained.
During the ceremony, Frank’s wife, Krista, received the Saint Joan of Arc Medallion in recognition of her decades of service to military families and the community. Since 2003, she has provided support to families of fallen Soldiers, and in 2006, President George W. Bush presented her with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Frank’s operational background includes two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a third in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
He commanded the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry during New York State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and led the unit during its deployment to the National Capital Region in January 2021.
Following his commissioning and graduation from the Armor Officer Basic Course, Frank served on active duty as a tank and mortar platoon leader, company executive officer, and assistant operations officer with the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment.
After transitioning to the National Guard, he served as an assistant operations officer with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, before joining the New York Army National Guard. Following a two-year assignment at the Pentagon, he served as assistant operations officer for the 153rd Troop Command in Buffalo.
In April 2017, Frank deployed to Iraq as a liaison officer for the 10th Mountain Division’s Main Command Post Operational Detachment. While in Baghdad, he served as deputy director of the Security Sector Reform Group at the U.S. Embassy, coordinating defense institution building with the Iraqi government, NATO, and the United Nations.
He later served as operations officer for the 42nd Infantry Division, overseeing two major division warfighter exercises and the mobilization of subordinate units. As commander of the 27th IBCT, he directed multi-echelon training exercises across four continents and led the brigade's support to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Cavalry Leaders Course, Command and General Staff College, Defense Strategy Course, and the U.S. Army War College.
He holds a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Business Administration from St. Bonaventure University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency.
In civilian life, Frank works as a program manager for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority at the West Valley Demonstration Project.
Frank lives in West Valley with his wife Krista and their three sons, Henry, Jacob and Isaac.
| Date Taken: | 08.15.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2026 18:38 |
| Story ID: | 572642 |
| Location: | BUFFALO, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | WEST VALLEY, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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