Spa City man named NYS adjutant general
Shields appointed to role by Gov. Cuomo
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Major General Raymond F. Shields, Jr., of Saratoga Springs, has been named the new adjutant general of New York state.
He will lead New York’s military forces that include the New York Army National Guard, New York Air National Guard, New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard.
Shields, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, has served 35 years in the 10,000-member New York Army National Guard. For the past two years, he has been its commander and assistant adjutant general.
“I look forward to working with the men and women of the New York National Guard, the Naval Militia and the New York Guard to improve readiness and our ability to provide emergency responses when called by the governor,” he said.
His appointment as adjutant general was made by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Shields replaces Major General Anthony German, an Air National Guard officer, who was named Adjutant General in April 2016 and left the position on Sept. 30. German will serve as a traditional National Guard officer in Washington, D.C. before retiring after 35 years of military service later this year.
The change of command ceremony was held at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, in Latham.
“Major General Raymond F. Shields, Jr. has a distinguished record as a National Guard leader dedicated to serving our state and nation,” Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “He brings years of experience and knowledge in military affairs and will continue to strengthen the National Guard. I thank Major General Anthony German for his exemplary service as Adjutant General. He embodies the service and leadership that the National Guard represents, and I wish him all the best.”
Shields was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the New York Army National Guard through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program in May 1983 after graduating from the State University of New York at Albany.
He has served in a variety of military positions, including platoon leader, infantry company commander, battalion staff officer, battalion commander, brigade staff officer, brigade executive officer, and deputy commander, brigade chief of staff, New York Army National Guard chief of staff and New York National Guard director of joint staff.
Shields served in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009 as chief of staff for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, a NATO training mission led by the 27th brigade.
During his service, Shields has been involved in the New York National Guard response to Superstorm Sandy, several snowstorms, Lake Ontario flood control missions, the New York National Guard response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017 and the response
to Hurricane Florence earlier this year.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Albany; a master’s degree in public administration from Marist College, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
His military education includes the Army Strategic Education Program, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, the National Security Studies Management Course at Syracuse University, the Army Senior Leader Development Program, and the General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar taught by Harvard University.
Shields’ awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
The New York Military Forces consist of 10,000 members of the New York Army National Guard, 5,800 members of the New York Air National Guard, 2,500 people who serve in the New York Naval Militia and 500 members of the New York Guard, the state’s volunteer self-defense force.
“Major General Shields is an outstanding leader who has distinguished himself in service overseas and played a key role in the New York National Guard’s response to weather emergencies across the state and the nation,” Cuomo said. “His wealth of experience and knowledge in military affairs makes him the ideal candidate to lead the nearly 20,000 men and women who serve in our state’s military forces and serve the people of New York.”
“I thank Major General Anthony German for his service as Adjutant General and his many contributions to New York,” the governor said. “He truly embodies the service and leadership that the National Guard stands for and I wish him the best in this next chapter.”