H Steven Blum

H Steven Blum

Blum in January 2009, during his tenure as Deputy Commander of the U.S. Northern Command.
Born (1946-10-13) October 13, 1946
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1971–2010
Rank Lieutenant general
Unit Maryland National Guard
Commands held 29th Infantry Division (Light)
Multinational Division (SFOR)
Chief of the U.S. National Guard Bureau
Battles/wars Operation Joint Forge
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Army Commendation Medal (2)
Other work Managing Director and Group Practice Leader, Sitrick Brincko Group
Advisor, Blakely Educational Services, Inc.

H Steven Blum (born October 13, 1946) is a former United States Army officer. Blum served as the 25th Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2003 to 2008. His last assignment before retiring was Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command, where he concurrently served as Vice Commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. He retired from the Army National Guard of the United States on May 21, 2010.

Early life and education

Blum was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 13, 1946.[1] He attended Forest Park High School, graduating in 1963.[2] He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Baltimore in 1968.[3]

Soon after graduating, Blum enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard. His unit was activated in response to riots that flared up in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blum would later recall that "he heard more shots fired in the weeks he worked downtown Baltimore's streets than during any of his other deployments – at home or abroad."[4]

Blum taught U.S. history at Pimlico Junior High School before accepting a full-time position with the Army National Guard in 1971. He received a Master of Science degree in social science from Morgan State College in 1973.

Blum is Jewish, and is a member of Jewish War Veterans.[5]

Career

Blum received his commission from Officer Candidate School on August 28, 1971, graduating with honors. He subsequently carried out staff and command assignmemnts at every level from platoon to division, including command of a Special Forces Operational Detachment-A, Light Infantry Battalion, Infantry Brigade, and Division Support Command.[6]

His general officer assignments included Assistant Adjutant General for the Maryland Army National Guard, Assistant Division Commander (Support) and Commander of the 29th Infantry Division (Light), and Chief of Staff, United States Northern Command.[7]

Operation Joint Forge

Blum served as Commanding General for Multinational Division (North) Stabilization Force 10 in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2001 and 2002 as part of Operation Joint Forge.[8]

During his tenure at SFOR, Blum received high marks for his military and diplomatic ability to command and coordinate multiple units of various nations. In his last work, To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian, the late historian Stephen Ambrose compared Blum favorably to Dwight Eisenhower in World War II.[9]

Chief of the National Guard Bureau

Blum awarding a soldier the Distinguished Service Cross in 2007.

In April 2003 Blum was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to lieutenant general.[10]

When his term expired in 2007 he received a two-year extension.[11]

As Chief, National Guard Bureau, Blum was the senior uniformed National Guard officer, responsible for formulating, developing, and coordinating all policies, programs, and plans affecting more than half a million federalized and nonfederalized Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel. Appointed by the U.S. president, he served as the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense and Chief of Staff of the Army, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force on all National Guard issues. His duties also included serving as the Army's and Air Force's official channel of communication with state governors and adjutants general concerning the 54 state and territorial National Guards.

He served as Chief until November, 2009 and was succeeded by Craig R. McKinley.[12]

United States Northern Command

Following his term as Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Blum was assigned as Deputy Commander of the United States Northern Command.[13]

As Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command, Blum helped lead the command to anticipate, prepare, and respond to threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and interests within the assigned area of responsibility and, as directed by the President or Secretary of Defense, provided defense support to civil authorities including consequence management operations.

He served at NORTHCOM until retiring in May, 2010.[14]

Later work

After his retirement from the military, Blum accepted a position as managing director and group practice leader with the Sitrick Brincko Group.[15]

He was also an Executive in Residence at The Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, Division of Public Safety and Leadership.[16]

As of 2012, Blum is affiliated with Blakely Educational Services, Inc., a firm which provides educational services to the United States military, its allies, and for other organizations.[17]

NAACP Meritorious Service Award

On July 18, 2006, Blum was awarded the NAACP Meritorious Service Award at their 31st annual Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Awards banquet.[18] Some atheists and agnostics objected to certain remarks about their lack of religious belief, and his paraphrased repetition of the "no atheists in foxholes" assertion. According to Blum in his remarks: "The strength of this nation is that it's not homogeneous. We don't all look alike. We don't all think alike. We don't all play alike. We don't all have the same physical attributes."

Civilian education

Military education

In addition, Blum is a graduate of:

Assignments

  1. August 1971 – September 1972, S-3, Detachment B3, Company B, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Maryland Army National Guard
  2. October 1972 – August 1974, Air Operations Officer, Headquarters Detachment, 5th Special Forces Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, Maryland Army National Guard
  3. August 1974 – August 1976, Battalion S-2, Headquarters Detachment, 5th Special Forces Battalion, 20th Special Forces, Maryland Army National Guard
  4. September 1976 – November 1977, Recruiting and Retention Officer, Headquarters Detachment, Maryland Army National Guard
  5. November 1977 – August 1978, Commander, Special Forces Operations Detachment-A, Company B, 5th Special Forces Battalion, 20th Special Forces, Maryland Army National Guard
  6. September 1978 – October 1978, Recruiting and Retention Officer, Headquarters Detachment, Maryland Army National Guard
  7. October 1978 – June 1981, Special Forces Operations Officer, Command and Control, Headquarters, Maryland Army National Guard
  8. July 1981 – September 1981, Marksmanship Program Administrator, Headquarters Detachment, Maryland Army National Guard
  9. October 1981 – September 1982, Training Administrator, Headquarters Detachment, Maryland Army National Guard
  10. October 1982 – November 1984, Director Plans, Operations and Training, Headquarters, State Area Command, Maryland Army National Guard
  11. December 1984 – July 1985, Mobilization Operations Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Maryland Army National Guard
  12. August 1985 – September 1987, Battalion Commander, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard
  13. October 1987 – October 1988, Executive Officer, Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard
  14. November 1988 – January 1989, Operations and Training Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Maryland Army National Guard
  15. January 1989 – August 1992, Director, Plans, Operations, and Training, Headquarters, Maryland Army National Guard
  16. September 1992 – July 1995, Commander, 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard
  17. July 1995 – August 1996, Commander, Division Support Command, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard
  18. August 1996 – July 1999, Assistant Division Commander, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard
  19. August 1999 – October 2001, Commanding General, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Virginia Army National Guard
  20. October 2001 – April 2002, Commanding General, Multi National Division (North), Stabilization Force 10, Operation Joint Force, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  21. April 2002 – August 2002, Commanding General, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Virginia Army National Guard
  22. August 2002 – April 2003, Chief of Staff, United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
  23. April 2003 – November 2008, Chief, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
  24. January 2009 – May 21, 2010, Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command and Vice Commander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

Awards and decorations

 Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
 Legion of Merit (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
 Army Superior Unit Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze star
 National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with "M" Device and Gold Hourglass)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
Special Forces Tab
Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Canadian Parachutist Badge

Dates of rank

Rank Date
Lieutenant general 13 April 2003
Major general 1 February 2000
Brigadier general 1 August 1996
Colonel 3 January 1989
Lieutenant colonel 1 October 1982
Major 8 September 1978
Captain 3 September 1974
First lieutenant 28 August 1972
Second lieutenant 28 August 1971

See also

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1, entry for H. Steven Blum, 1020.
  2. ↑ Tom Bowman, Baltimore Sun, Bush nominates Marylander to Top National Guard Post, January 7, 2003.
  3. ↑ Blakely Educational Services, Resume, H Steven Blum, 2012, page 2.
  4. ↑ Caitlin Harrington, "Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum commands a changing National Guard," Congressional Quarterly (October 10, 2003).
  5. ↑ Jewish War Veterans, Articles from the Jewish War Veterans, Lieutenant General H Steven, Excerpts of Remarks, 2003, page 1.
  6. ↑ Maryland Military Historical Society, Newsletter, LTG (Ret.) H Steven Blum Elected President of MDMHS, 2010, page 1.
  7. ↑ Space Foundation, Strategic Space Symposium, Speaker's biography, H Steven Blum, 2009.
  8. ↑ United States Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, Biography, H. Steven Blum, 2013.
  9. ↑ MSG Bob Haskell, "Blum new Guard Bureau chief," Army News Service, (April 16, 2003).
  10. ↑ Katherine McIntire Peters, Government Executive, National Guard to Undergo Major Overhaul, May 18, 2003.
  11. ↑ National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum Extended as Chief, National Guard Bureau, January 26, 2007.
  12. ↑ Mike R. Smith, National Guard Bureau, Gates Taps McKinley as Next Guard Bureau Chief, July 16, 2008.
  13. ↑ North American Aerospace Defense Command, Blum assumes Deputy Commander, USNORTHCOM, January 16, 2009.
  14. ↑ PRNews Wire, Lt General H Steven Blum (U.S. Army, Ret.) Joins Sitrick Brincko Group, July 13, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Retired General Joins Sitrick Brincko", The New York Times, 2010-07-12, retrieved 2011-09-09
  16. ↑ U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Biography H Steven Blum, page 1, 2010.
  17. ↑ Blakely Educational Services, Inc., Home page, The BES Team, accessed June 7, 2013.
  18. ↑ Rudi Williams, "General Praises NAACP for Making National Guard Better," Armed Forces Press Service (July 19, 2006).
  19. ↑ North Atlantic *Treaty Organization, Stabilization Force, Biography, H Steven Blum, accessed June 7, 2013.
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Military offices
Preceded by
MG Raymond F. Rees (acting)		 Chief of the National Guard Bureau
2003–2008 		Succeeded by
GEN Craig R. McKinley
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