Gronewold will become ONG adjutant general
By Terry Murry on Thursday, October 19th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PORTLAND – Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has appointed Col. Alan R. Gronewold as the adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard. The outgoing adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, will retire next month after leading the guard for eight years.
“Alan Gronewold is a tested leader, known for building a positive organizational culture by centering dignity and respect,” Gov. Kotek wrote in a prepared statement. “He brings the experience and character this position calls for and I am honored to name him as our next adjutant general.”
Gronewold is a familiar face to many in Eastern Oregon. For almost a decade he was the commander of Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 in Pendleton. He left Pendleton to become the commander of the Second Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment in Salem. Pendleton Economic Development Director Steve Chrisman said Gronewold is one of the finest people he’s ever had the pleasure of working with.
“He was commander of Pendleton’s Army National Guard Air Base and chairman of the Pendleton Airport Commission in 2013 when I took over as airport manager,” Chrisman said. “I was fortunate to work with him for several years before he was understandably promoted away. He always proved himself to be a great leader, approachable, solution-oriented, and very strategic. Al was the first one to suggest UAS was an economic development opportunity for Pendleton, and he was instrumental in Pendleton becoming a UAS test range. It’s hard to fathom that Oregon could have found anyone more deserving of this important position.”
Gronewold has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is currently in the process of promotion to brigadier general. The date of his investiture has not been announced.
