Major General Timothy A. Reisch was appointed by Governor Dennis Daugaard as South Dakota’s 21st Adjutant General on 2 April 2011. As the Adjutant General, he serves as the Commanding General of both the South Dakota Air and Army National Guard where he guides the preparation of the 4,450 Air and Army National Guard citizen soldiers, airmen, and 995 full-time federal and state employees to respond in times of state or national emergency. He is responsible for Federal and State missions, assignment of leaders, recruiting, training, equipping, mobilization, facilities, and public relations. He is also responsible for formulating, developing, and coordinating all policies, plans, and programs affecting Air and Army National Guard members in South Dakota. General Reisch serves on the Governor’s cabinet as the Secretary of the Department of Military and serves as the principle advisor to the Governor on military matters.
General Reisch began his military service when he enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard in his hometown of Howard in 1978. He received his commission through State Office Candidate School in 1980. He commanded both Company C and Company B of the 153rd Engineer Battalion. In July of 1998, General Reisch was named Commander of the 153rd Engineer Battalion, a position he held for 40 months. Following battalion command, General Reisch was assigned as the Chief of the Exercise Division of the South Dakota Army National Guard, and later as Deputy Commander of Joint Force Headquarters. Following completion of Army War College, he was named Commander of the 109th Engineer Group based in Rapid City. In April of 2007, General Reisch was named the first Commander of the 109th Regional Support Group.
EDUCATION:
- Upper Iowa University, Bachelors Degree, Public Administration, Fayette, Iowa
- University of South Dakota, Masters Degree, Administrative Studies, Vermillion, South Dakota
- United States Army War College, Masters Degree, Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
ASSIGNMENTS:
December 1978 – July 1979, Enlisted Service, Detachment 1, Company B 153rd Engineer Battalion, Howard, South Dakota
July 1979 - July 1980, Officer Candidate School, South Dakota Military Academy, Mitchell, South Dakota
July 1980 – August 1981, Platoon Leader, Company B (-) 153rd Engineer Battalion, Madison, South Dakota
August 1981 – August 1984, Commander, Detachment 1, Company B 153rd Engineer Battalion, Howard, South Dakota
August 1984 – October 1985, Commander, Company C, 153rd Engineer Battalion, Parkston, South Dakota
October 1985 – November 1988, Commander, Company B, 153rd Engineer Battalion, Huron, South Dakota
November 1988 – August 1989, Assistant S-3, Headquarters, 153rd Engineer Battalion, Huron, South Dakota
August 1989 – June 1992, S-4 Officer, Headquarters, 153rd Engineer Battalion, Huron, South Dakota
June 1992 – July 1992, Assistant Operations Officer, Headquarters, 109th Engineer Group, Rapid City, South Dakota.
July 1992 – November 1992, Engineer Equipment Officer, Headquarters, 109th Engineer Group, Rapid City, South Dakota
November 1992 – September 1993, S-1 Officer, Headquarters, 109th Engineer Battalion, Rapid City, South Dakota
September 1993 – September 1996, S-3 Officer, Headquarters, 109th Engineer Battalion, Sturgis, South Dakota
September 1996 – July 1998, Executive Officer, Headquarters, 109th Engineer Battalion, Sturgis, South Dakota
July 1998 – October 2001, Commander, 153rd Engineer Battalion (CORPS) (MECH) Huron, South Dakota
November 2001 – July 2004, Chief, Exercise Division, Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Headquarters, Strategic Reserve Center, Rapid City, South Dakota
July 2004 – June 2005, Student in Residence, United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
June 2005 – September 2005, Director of Logistics, South Dakota Army National Guard, Rapid City, South Dakota
September 2005 – April 2007, Commander 109th Engineer Group, Rapid City, South Dakota
April 2007 – May 2009, Commander, 109th Regional Support Group, Rapid City, South Dakota
May 2009 – March 2010, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Joint Forces Headquarters for South Dakota, Rapid City, South Dakota
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with Star Device)
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hour Glass Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with “2” Device)
South Dakota Distinguished Service Award (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
South Dakota Recruiting Ribbon
National Guard Service Medal
South Dakota Desert Storm Ribbon
Bronze deFleury Medal, United States Army Engineer Regiment
CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
American Correctional Association
American Legion
Army Engineer Association
Association of State Correctional Administration
Knights of Columbus
National Guard Association of South Dakota (Life Member)
National Guard Association of the United States (Life Member)
United States Army Engineer Association (Permanent Member)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:
Second Lieutenant 27 July 1980
First Lieutenant 26 July 1983
Captain 29 July 1985
Major 28 July 1992
Lieutenant Colonel 10 August 1998
Colonel 30 April 2002
Brigadier General 3 May 2009
Adjutant General 2 April 2011