OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Army National Guard officer Jason Boesch, a Blackwell High School graduate and Ponca City native, was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony Aug. 2 at the Oklahoma National Guard Museum in Oklahoma City.
Boesch, who has served 26 years in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, was joined at the ceremony by family, friends and Oklahoma National Guard leaders, including Brig. Gen. Colby Wyatt, director of the joint staff, and Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, assistant adjutant general for Oklahoma.
Boesch said the promotion carries particular significance because of his longstanding connection to Oklahoma.
“Reaching the rank of colonel represents the fulfillment of a lifelong commitment to my home state and its citizens,” Boesch said. “Serving Oklahoma in uniform for over 26 years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting and protecting the communities I grew up in. Achieving promotions in the Oklahoma National Guard is a testament to the incredible opportunities this state and Guard have provided me. I’m grateful to continue serving the Oklahoma Guard in this capacity.”
Throughout his military career, Boesch has served in a variety of assignments, including as aide-de-camp to retired Maj. Gen. Douglas Dollar, former commander of the Army Reserve’s 95th Training Division and a member of the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. Boesch is currently deployed to Kosovo as a deputy legal advisor in support of NATO’s Kosovo Force peacekeeping mission.
Outside of his military service, Boesch is an attorney and certified public accountant who recently concluded a 30-year civilian career with Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives. The son of Charles and Berneita Boesch, he has maintained close ties to the state throughout his military and civilian careers.
“Throughout my 26 years in the Army Guard and Reserve, my family and friends have been a great source of strength and motivation, sacrificing alongside me through deployments, trainings and milestones,” Boesch said. “At the same time, the dedicated NCOs, officers, and junior soldiers I've led and learned from have continuously inspired me, shaped my leadership style, and reinforced my commitment to service.”