Lieutenant General (Brevet) Richard C. Nash (born 1950) was the 30th adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, having been appointed to that position by the governor of Minnesota in 2010. Nash had previously served as commanding general of both US Army and multi-national forces including the US Army's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, the Multi-National Division-South during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Multi-National Brigade-North (SFOR-14) in Bosnia Herzegovina during Operation Joint Forge.
His prior positions also include special assistant to the combatant commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), United States Northern Command, and assistant division commander (maneuver) for the 34th Infantry Division in Iraq.
Education
Nash received a Bachelor of Science degree in health, biology and physical education from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1972. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College and the United States Army Infantry School's Basic and Advanced Infantry Officer Courses.
Personal history
Born in Minnesota on September 10, 1950, Nash spent his civilian career in construction management, working in executive positions at Hanson Spancrete Midwest, Maple Grove, and Fabcon, Inc. Nash retired from Hanson Spancrete Midwest as the vice president in 2004 in order to devote more time to his military responsibilities.
Military career
Nash was drafted into the Army July 16, 1972, and after graduating from Mankato State University, he received his commission as a second lieutenant on April 11, 1976. His first assignment was as a communications platoon leader, Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division, in Stillwater, Minnesota.
He then served with 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, in Rochester, Minnesota. There he served as a platoon leader and detachment commander for Company C, Battalion S-2 and Battalion S-4. Following his attendance at the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Nash assumed command of Company C, 1st Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, and later moved on to serve as the battalion's operations officer (S-3). He continued in the operations officer role when he was transferred to 1st Brigade, 47th Infantry Division in 1989.
In 1991, Nash returned to the 135th Infantry Regiment, but this time to the 2nd Battalion as battalion commander. Upon his promotion to colonel, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, out of Stillwater, Minnesota, until 1999, when he became the director of facility management at Little Falls, Minnesota.
On October 1, 2000, Nash was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was promoted to assistant division commander (maneuver) of the 34th Infantry Division. From June 2003 to April 2004, Nash served as commanding general of the Multi-National Brigade (North) (SFOR-14) during Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia Herzegovina, and upon his return to the United States, he resumed his position as assistant division commander for the 34th Infantry Division.
On June 22, 2004, Nash received his second star. Along with this promotion to the rank of major general, Nash was appointed to serve as special assistant to the combatant commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and the command's National Guard Liaison.