Ron Welch

Brigadier General Ronald Paul Welch is an American military officer and the Director of the Joint Staff of the Connecticut National Guard. He began his military service in 1978 when he enlisted in the United States Army. He was commissioned, through Connecticut Military Academy in August 1984 through the Officer Candidate School.[1]

Ronald P. Welch
Born (1960-01-09) January 9, 1960
New London, Connecticut
Allegiance United States
State of Connecticut
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1978 – 2017
Rank Brigadier General
Commands held
  • 85th Troop Command
  • 14th Civil Support Team
  • 1st OCS Battalion, 169th Leadership Regiment
  • HHC, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division
Battles/warsOperation Enduring Freedom
AwardsSoldier's Medal
Bronze Star
Spouse(s)Susan J. Foley (1983 – 1998, her death)
Leanne P. Briggs (1999 -)

Personal life

Ron was born on January 9, 1960 in New London, Connecticut to Donald Lee Welch and Marguerite Ann Welch ( Hatfield). His family moved to East Lyme, Connecticut where he attended East Lyme High School and was a competitive athlete in football, wrestling and crew. He married Susan Jane Foley on July 2, 1983 at Harkness Chapel on the grounds of Connecticut College. Together they had one son. [2] Susan was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease on March 1, 1995. She died May 26, 1998.

Ron then married Leanne Patricia Briggs on October 10, 1999 at St. Mary’s Church in Lynn, Massachusetts. He and Leanne have a daughter, Katherine and a son, Ethan together.

Education

Ron attended Mohegan Community College in 1985, graduating with an Associate in Science. He then received his bachelor's degree in 1992 from Eastern Connecticut State University. Ron has two master's degrees. A Masters of Science from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2007 and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2011.

Military career

United States Army

Ron enlisted in the United States Army in on October 3, 1978 where he served on active duty with the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. During his active duty service he attained the rank of Sergeant and completed Basic Airborne School, Ranger School, Jungle Warfare Course, USMC Amphibious Recon Scout Swimmer Course, Jumpmaster Course, Primary Non Commission Officer Course, USMC Scout Sniper Course, Emergency Medical Technician Course, Special Operations and Tactics Course, and the Pathfinder School. On May 4, 1981, he sustained serious injuries during an in-line of duty parachute accident. He left active service on October 2, 1982.[1]

Connecticut National Guard

After leaving active service, Ron joined the Connecticut National Guard where he attended Officer Candidate School in 1983. On August 11, 1984 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. He then served in numerous positions in the Connecticut National Guard’s Infantry units as a rifle platoon leader, company commander and various staff positions. He also served as an operations officer in a Combat Engineer Bn. While as a member of the National Guard, Ron graduated from, The Infantry Officer Basic Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Air Assault Course, Infantry Officers Advanced Courses, NBC Officer/NCO Defense Course, Rappel Master Course, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Israeli Defense Force Airborne Center, the US Army War College, Army Combat Lifesaver Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Leadership in Homeland Security Course, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, the General & Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar.[1]

Operation Enduring Freedom

Ron deployed to Afghanistan from 2005-2006 as a Senior American advisor to an Afghan National Army, Infantry Brigade located in Eastern Afghanistan, providing training, advice and conducting combat operations.[3] While in Afghanistan, he continued to advise units of the Connecticut National Guard in preparing them for their deployments to Afghanistan. His main advice was to learn the culture, the language and customs while continuing traditional military skills such as physical fitness and marksmanship.[4]

Soldier’s Medal

On December 11, 1992, during an intense winter storm, a dispatcher from the Fairfield, Connecticut fire department called the Stratford Armory for assistance evacuating residents. Then Captain Welch and four others, Sergeants First Class Roger G. Barr, Douglas E. Bell, Raymond C. Spry and Specialist Chi Tranh Chong, drove to the scene in a canvas covered military truck. They rescued 34 personnel, including a 94-year-old woman and students from nearby Fairfield University. The soldiers had to evacuate the vehicles, wade through chest high water of 42 degrees and carry the victims to the truck. While attempting to leave the flooded area, the truck stalled in the rising flood waters. The team was able to secure some small boats drifting in the water and used them to hand tow the victims to a waiting fire boat. Others were brought to a small dry piece of land where they were eventually rescued by helicopter.[5]

Assignments

1. August 1984 – May 1985, Rifle Platoon Leader Company B, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut
2. May 1985 – March 1987, Company Executive Officer, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut
3. March 1987 – April 1988, Battalion Tactical Intelligence Officer, (BICC), 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut
4. April 1988 – November 1988, Battalion S-3 (Air), 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut
5. November 1988 – November 1989, Company Commander, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut
6. November 1989 – June 1990, Battalion S-2, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut
7. June 1990 – July 1990, Battalion S-1, 143rd Forward Support Battalion, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Waterbury, Connecticut
8. July 1990 – February 1991, Battalion S-2, 2nd Battalion, 102nd Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Meriden, Connecticut
9. February 1991 – March 1992, Battalion S-1, 2nd Battalion, 102nd Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Meriden, Connecticut
10. March 1992 – January 1993, Battalion Operations Officer, Headquarters Company, 242nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Connecticut Army National Guard, Stratford, Connecticut
11. January 1993 – April 1995, Battalion Assistant S-3, Headquarters Company, 242nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Connecticut Army National Guard, Stratford, Connecticut
12. April 1995 – August 1995, Instructor, Connecticut Military Academy, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut
13. August 1995 – January 1996, Senior Instructor, Connecticut Military Academy, Connecticut Army National Guard Niantic, Connecticut
14. January 1996 – February 1997, Executive Officer/Operations Officer, Northeast Leadership Training Brigade, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut
15. February 1997 – October 1998, Operations Officer, Headquarters, 169th Leadership Regiment, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut
16. October 1998 – August 1999, Brigade S-3, Headquarters, 85th Troop Command, State Area Command, New London, Connecticut
17. August 1999 – January 2000, Brigade S-1, Headquarters, 85th Troop Command, State Area Command, New London, Connecticut
18. January 2000 – August 2000, Commander, 1st OCS Battalion, Headquarters, 169th Leadership Regiment, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut
19. August 2000 – November 2003, Brigade S-3, Headquarters, 85th Troop Command, State Area Command, New London, Connecticut
20. November 2003 – March 2004, Commander 14th Civil Support Team, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut
21. March 2004 – May 2005, J5/Director of Military Support, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut
22. May 2005 – June 2005, Brigade Advisory Team Leader (ETT), FT Carson, Colorado
23. June 2005 – June 2006, Brigade Advisory Team Leader (ETT), CJTF Phoenix, Afghanistan
24. June 2006 – March 2007, J5/Director of Military Support, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut
25. April 2007 – June 2008, J3/Director of Operations, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut
26. July 2008 – May 2010, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut
27. May 2010 – August 2012, Commander, 85th Troop Command, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut
28. August 2012 – February 2014, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut
29. February 2014 – Present, Director, Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

Awards and decorations
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal
 Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
 Army Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and three bronze oak leaf clusters
 Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
 Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
 National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
 Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
 Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass and M Device
Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
 Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with numeral 2

Effective dates of promotion
Promotions
InsigniaRankDate
Brigadier GeneralJuly 31, 2015
ColonelOctober 1, 2004
Lieutenant ColonelAugust 29, 2000
MajorAugust 3, 1995
CaptainFebruary 24, 1990
First LieutenantAugust 10, 1987
Second LieutenantAugust 11, 1984

References
  1. "Official Biography". National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  2. Foley, John. Popular East Lyme teacher victim of Lou Gehrig’s disease, New London Day, New London, CT: May 28, 1998
  3. "Where Armies Must Be Built, It's Slow (Iraq) and Even Slower (Afghanistan)". New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  4. "Advice From The Afghan Front Lines". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  5. Guinness, Meredith. 4 Guardsmen Lauded as Heroes, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport, CT: March 13, 1994
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