H Steven Blum: Difference between revisions

|name= H. Steven Blum

|image= H. Steven Blum (3).jpg{{!}}border

|branchrank= {{Army|[[Lieutenant general (United States)|size=23px}}Lieutenant general]]

Blum was born in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], on October 13, 1946.<ref>U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1, entry for H. Steven Blum, 1020.</ref> He attended [[Forest Park High School (Maryland)|Forest Park High School]], graduating in 1963.<ref>Tom Bowman, Baltimore Sun, [https://archive.today/20131124160027/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/274890471.html?dids=274890471:274890471&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+07%2C,+2003&author=Tom+Bowman&pub=The+Sun&desc=Bush+nominates+Marylander+to+top+National+Guard+post+%3B;+Blum%2C,+56%2C,+would+oversee+policy%2C,+future+direction+of+470%2C000,000+standby+troops&pqatl=google Bush nominates Marylander to Top National Guard Post], January 7, 2003.</ref> He obtained his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[history]] from the [[University of Baltimore]] in 1968.<ref>Blakely Educational Services, [http://www.bes-ventures.com/resumes/BES%20Resume%20Blum%20H%20S%2020120128%20edited.pdf Resume, H Steven Blum]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, 2012, page 2.</ref>

Soon after graduating, Blum enlisted in the [[Maryland Army National Guard]]. His unit was activated in April 1968, in response to riotsthe that[[Baltimore flaredriot upof in1968]] thethat wakebroke ofout following 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."<ref>Caitlin Harrington, [http://www.eangmt.org/publications/congressionalquarterlyjan04.pdf "Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum commands a changing National Guard,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509081801/http://www.eangmt.org/publications/congressionalquarterlyjan04.pdf |date=2008-05-09 }} ''Congressional Quarterly'' (October 10, 2003).</ref>

Blum taught [[History of the United States|U.S.United States history]] at [[Pimlico, Baltimore|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 University|Morgan State College]] in 1973.

==CareerMilitary career==

Blum received his commission from [[Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)|Officer Candidate School]] on August 28, 1971, graduating with honors. He subsequently carried out staff and command assignmemntsassignments at every level from [[Platoon#United States Army|platoon]] to [[Division (military)|division]], including command of a Special Forces Operational Detachment-A, Light Infantry Battalion, Infantry Brigade, and Division Support Command.<ref>Maryland Military Historical Society, Newsletter, [http://www.mdmildep.org/dmilnewsletter/documents/General%20Blum.pdf LTG (Ret.) H Steven Blum Elected President of MDMHS], 2010, page 1.</ref>

HisBlum's [[general officer]] assignments included [[Adjutant general#United States|Assistant Adjutant General]] for the [[Maryland Army National Guard]], Assistantassistant Divisiondivision Commandercommander (Supportsupport) and Commandercommander of the [[29th Infantry Division (United States)|29th Infantry Division (Light)]], and Chiefchief of Staffstaff, [[United States Northern Command]].<ref>Space Foundation, Strategic Space Symposium, [http://www.stratspace.org/speakers/lt-gen-steven-blum-usa.html Speaker's biography, H Steven Blum], 2009.</ref>

Blum served as Commandingcommanding Generalgeneral for [[SFORMulti-National Division (North) (Bosnia)|Multinational Division (North) Stabilization Force 10]] in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] during 2001 and 2002 as part of [[Operation Joint Forge]].<ref>United States Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, [http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/people.cfm?authorID=854 Biography, H. Steven Blum], 2013.</ref>

[[File:Timothy Nein receives Distinguished Service Cross.jpg|thumb|175px|left|Blum awarding a soldier the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] in 2007.]]

In April 2003 Blum was appointed Chiefchief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to lieutenant general.<ref>Katherine McIntire Peters, Government Executive, [http://www.govexec.com/defense/2003/05/national-guard-to-undergo-major-overhaul/14126/ National Guard to Undergo Major Overhaul], May 18, 2003.</ref>

When his term expired in 2007 he received a two-year extension.<ref>National Guard Bureau, [http://www.ng.mil/news/archives/2007/01/012907-CNGB_extended.aspx Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum Extended as Chief, National Guard Bureau]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, January 26, 2007.</ref>

As Chief,chief of the National Guard Bureau, Blum was the senior uniformed [[National Guard of the United States|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 [[President of the United States|U.S. president]], he served as the principal adviser to the [[United States Secretary of the Army|Secretary of Defense]] and [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff of the Army]], and [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|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 [[Adjutant general|adjutants general]] concerning the 54 state and territorial [[National Guard (United States)|National Guards]].

HeBlum served as Chiefchief until November, 2008 and was succeeded by [[Craig R. McKinley]].<ref>Mike R. Smith, National Guard Bureau, [http://www.nationalguard.mil/news/archives/2008/07/071608-Gates_taps.aspx Gates Taps McKinley as Next Guard Bureau Chief], July 16, 2008.</ref>

Following his term as Chiefchief of the National Guard Bureau, Blum was assigned as Deputy Commander of the United States Northern Command.<ref>North American Aerospace Defense Command, [http://www.norad.mil/Newsroom/tabid/3170/Article/1449/blum-assumes-deputy-commander-usnorthcom.aspx Blum assumes Deputy Commander, USNORTHCOM] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130830002639/http://www.norad.mil/Newsroom/tabid/3170/Article/1449/blum-assumes-deputy-commander-usnorthcom.aspx |date=2013-08-30 }}, January 16, 2009.</ref>

As Deputydeputy Commandercommander, 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 Presidentpresident or [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], provided defense support to civil authorities including consequence management operations.

He served at NORTHCOM until retiring in May, 2010.<ref>PRNews Wire, [http://www.thestreet.com/story/10804952/lt-general-h-steven-blum-us-army-ret-joins-sitrick-brincko-group.html Lt General H Steven Blum (U.S. Army, Ret.) Joins Sitrick Brincko Group]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, July 13, 2010.</ref>

He was also an Executive in Residence at [[The Johns Hopkins University]], School of Education, Division of Public Safety and Leadership.<ref>U.S. House Armed Services Committee, [http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=cf675908-7e9b-45c1-bf9e-e0f335b089e9 Biography H Steven Blum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228054238/http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=cf675908-7e9b-45c1-bf9e-e0f335b089e9 |date=2013-02-28 }}, page 1, 2010.</ref>

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.<ref>Blakely Educational Services, Inc., [http://www.bes-ventures.com/index.htm Home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820074228/http://bes-ventures.com/index.htm |date=2013-08-20 }}, [http://www.bes-ventures.com/team2.htm The BES Team] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20141113032006/http://www.bes-ventures.com/team2.htm |date=2014-11-13 }}, accessed June 7, 2013.</ref>

# October 1972 – August 1974, Airair Operationsoperations Officerofficer, Headquarters Detachment, 5th Special Forces Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, Maryland Army National Guard

# November 1977 – August 1978, Commandercommander, Special Forces Operations Detachment-A, Company B, 5th Special Forces Battalion, 20th Special Forces, Maryland Army National Guard

# August 1985 – September 1987, Battalionbattalion Commandercommander, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard

# October 1987 – October 1988, Executiveexecutive Officerofficer, Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard

# November 1988 – January 1989, Operations and Trainingtraining Officerofficer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Maryland Army National Guard

# January 1989 – August 1992, Directordirector, Plans, Operations, and Training, Headquarters, Maryland Army National Guard

# September 1992 – July 1995, Commandercommander, 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard

# July 1995 – August 1996, Commandercommander, Division Support Command, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard

# August 1996 – July 1999, Assistantassistant Divisiondivision Commandercommander, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Maryland Army National Guard

# August 1999 – October 2001, Commandingcommanding Generalgeneral, 29th Infantry Division (Light), Virginia Army National Guard

# October 2001 – April 2002, Commandingcommanding Generalgeneral, Multi National Division (North), Stabilization Force 10, Operation Joint Force, Bosnia and Herzegovina

# April 2002 – August 2002, Commandingcommanding Generalgeneral, 29th Infantry Division (Light), [[Virginia Army National Guard]]

# August 2002 – April 2003, Chiefchief of Staffstaff, United States Northern Command, [[Peterson Air Force Base]], [[Colorado]]

# April 2003 – November 2008, Chiefchief, National Guard Bureau, [[Arlington, Virginia]]

# January 2009 – May 21, 2010, Deputydeputy Commandercommander, United States Northern Command and Vicevice Commandercommander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

|{{Ribbon devices|number=10|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-41px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top:0; left:-30px; display:inline-block; width:0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span>

|[[National Defense Service Medal]] (with 2 Bronze [[Service Star]]s)

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110527045548/http://www.northcom.mil/leaders_html/docs/Blum_LTGEN_NC_DC.pdf LTG Blum USNORTHCOM Biography]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080426090150/http://www.ngb.army.mil/ngbGomo/ATab2.aspx LTG Blum National Guard Biography]

| before= MG [[Raymond F. Rees]] (acting)

| after= GEN [[Craig R. McKinley]]

[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (UnitedUS StatesArmy)]]

[[Category:National Guard of the (United States) generals]]