HHD, Joint Force Headquarters, Minnesota National Guard

Please join us in congratulating the newest noncommisioned officer with Joint Force Headquarters, Sgt. Jessica Hanson.

Please join us in congratulating Master Sgt. Philip Goldsberry on his promotion today!

Please join us in congratulating Col. Jennifer Beck-Brown on her promotion! Col. Beck-Brown is the first Native American and female to serve as the Minnesota National Guard's Staff Judge Advocate.

Join us in bidding a heartfelt farewell to a true leader, Army Maj. Kindal Larson, as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement from the Minnesota National Guard.

Maj. Larson has been a beacon of strength and dedication through her unwavering commitment to serving the Minnesota National Guard. Her leadership, resilience, and tireless efforts have inspired us all and contributed significantly to the success of our mission.

To Maj. Larson, we salute you for your dedication, leadership, and the positive influence you've had on the Minnesota National Guard. Fair winds and following seas in all your future endeavors.

🎉 Farewell! Your presence will be missed, but your legacy will live on. 🎉

This weekend we bid farewell to a distinguished leader, Army Col. Carl A. Fassbender, as he embarks on a well-deserved retirement from the Minnesota National Guard.

His contributions have not only strengthened our armed forces but have also inspired all of us who have had the privilege of serving alongside him. Col. Fassbender, your legacy will continue to resonate within the ranks and files of the Minnesota National Guard. Your leadership has set a standard of excellence that will endure, and your impact on the lives of those you've led is immeasurable.

Please join us in extending our warmest wishes to Col. Fassbender as he enters this new chapter of life. May your retirement be filled with joy, relaxation, and new adventures. Your dedication to service has left an indelible mark on us all, and you will be greatly missed.

🎉🇺🇸 Farewell, Colonel Fassbender! 🇺🇸🎉

Friends and family gathered to honor Army Brig. Gen. Brian Bobo’s 32 years of dedicated military service and wish him well on his retirement from the Minnesota National Guard during a ceremony in Saint Paul, Minnesota on Nov. 11, 2023. Bobo entered the service in the U.S. Army in 1987, as a Pvt. in counterintelligence stationed in Germany before becoming a West Point cadet, commissioning as an armor officer in 1994. After five years in the Army, Bobo transition to the National Guard spending time with both the Iowa and Minnesota National Guard, serving at multiple levels of increased responsibility including as the commander of the 175th Regional Training Institute. He deployed twice, once in 2008 to Iraq supporting operations with the 164th Engineer Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and again in 2011 to Kuwait as the battalion commander of the 134th Brigade Support Battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In November of 2020, Bobo became the director of the joint staff for the Minnesota National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters, now retiring from that position.

Being a Citizen-Soldier means that we are spending most of our time in the community working our everyday careers in education, construction, medical, or business. For Warrant Officer Patrick Kooiker, his civilian career focus is serving as the Information Security Director of Cybersecurity Governance and Risk for Securian Financial. Learn more about his story here: https://www.securian.com/about-us/newsroom/be-you-with-us/patricks-story.html

Please join us in congratulating Chief Warrant Officer Five Erik Homme on his promotion that took place at a ceremony today, Sept. 10, 2023, at the Veterans Services Building in St. Paul. In April, Homme assumed duties as the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Minnesota Army National Guard and will serve as the primary advisor to the adjutant general and other senior commanders on all warrant officer matters.

Please join us in congratulating Lt. Col. John Zimmermann on 31 years of service!

Please join us in congratulating Sgt. Maddison Scharf who was presented the Army Commendation Medal by Maj. Matthew Kunkel today, Sept. 10, 2023, at the Cedar Street Armory in St. Paul. Scharf was recognized for her work and dedication to the Minnesota Counter Drug Task Force.

Please join us in congratulating Col. Jess Ulrick who was presented a Legion of Merit by Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Adjutant General for the Minnesota National Guard, today, Sept. 10, 2023, at the Cedar Street Armory in St. Paul. Ulrick was recognized for 25 years of exceptionally meritorious service in positions with increasing responsibility culminating as the personnel officer for the Joint Force Headquarters, Minnesota National Guard.

Joint Force Headquarters Soldiers, family, and friends gathered today in honor of Lt. Col. Gary Diamond for his retirement ceremony held at the Cedar Street Armory in St. Paul, Minn. Best wishes to Lt. Col. Diamond and his family as they begin this new chapter in their lives.

Joint Force Headquarters Soldiers, family, and friends attended the Change of Responsibility Ceremony between incoming 1st Sgt. Lee Schroeder and outgoing 1st Sgt. Nathan Carlsrud at Cedar Street Armory in St. Paul, Minn., July 16, 2023.

Please join us in congratulating Maj. Jodine Eells on her promotion!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Sexual Assault Awareness Month pancake breakfast this month! Learn more here: https://MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil/sapr

Please join us in congratulating Capt. Brandon Lauer on his promotion!

Please help us in congratulating Lt. Col. Jesse Johnson who was presented the Meritorious Service by Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Adjutant General for the Minnesota National Guard, on March 22, 2023. Johnson was recognized for his superb leadership and management of the state level logistics department for the Minnesota National Guard, which has increased the operational readiness of numerous units throughout the state.

Today, we recognized the contributions our support staff brought to the 50th anniversary of the U.S. -Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange during February's drill weekend. Our es**rt officers, transportation drivers, public affairs staff, operations, and general support staff went above and beyond to ensure that this event made a vastly positive impact at the state, national, and international level. Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota's Adjutant General, Command Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Erikson, MNNG Command Senior Enlisted Leader, and Capt. Matthew Kunkle, the JFHQ Commander, presented the awards. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to Sgt. 1st Class Ralphael Dawa on his retirement from the Minnesota National Guard. We have so appreciated your expertise and leadership in the information technology sphere and wish you well on this new chapter of your life!

Please help us in congratulating 1st Lt. Nikki Flynn for her exceptional work while serving as the Straxis Application Lead Project Officer. While in this role, Flynn project managed the design and implementation of the Minnesota National Guard App, which is now available for download and will be an instrumental part of how our force continues to modernize.

Please join is in congratulating Master Sgt. Greg Launderville on his retirement after 40 years of service!

Congratulations to Sgt. 1st Class Will Robinson on his promotion to Master Sgt.!

Join us in congratulating Master Sgt. Steven Wegleitner on his retirement after 29 years of service!

A Change of Command ceremony was held at the Camp Ripley Hangar on October 14, 2022. We would like to thank our outgoing commander, Maj. Christopher Byrnes, for all his hard work and dedication over the few past years and wish our incoming commander, Capt. Matthew Kunkel, good luck on this next adventure!

Yesterday, we celebrated Maj. Daniel Dobler's 31 years of service with his retirement ceremony on Sept. 10, 2022, in St. Paul, Minnesota. During his parting remarks, Maj. Dobler shared the words from Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s farewell address from 1951: “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

Thank you for your many years of service and here's to your next adventure, Sir!

Please help us in congratulating Staff Sgt. Nikita Bergstrom on being presented with the Army Commendation Medal during morning formation! She has strived to provide the highest level of support to our unit as the Admin NCOIC and will be greatly missed as she moves onto her next role as the aide to the Command Senior Enlisted Leader. Congrats Staff Sgt. and thank you for all your hard work!

Congratulations to newly promoted Master Sgt. Craig Wahlberg!
In addition to this well-deserved promotion, Master Sgt. Wahlberg also received the Meritorious Service Medal during his promotion ceremony on Aug. 17, 2022 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Congrats and good luck in your future endeavors!