Years of service 1971–2010 Battles and wars SFOR Name H. Blum | Rank Lieutenant general | |
 | ||
Born October 13, 1946 (age 77)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. ( 1946-10-13 ) Allegiance United States of America Commands held 29th Infantry Division (Light)
Multinational Division (SFOR)
Chief of the U.S. National Guard Bureau 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) Unit Maryland Army National Guard Education Morgan State University, University of Balti, Forest Park High School, Officer Candidate School | ||
Battles/wars Operation Joint Forge Service/branch United States Army | ||
Facing another national guard deployment to iraq lt gen h steven blum was on capitol hill wednesd
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.
Contents
- Facing another national guard deployment to iraq lt gen h steven blum was on capitol hill wednesd
- Early life and education
- Career
- Operation Joint Forge
- Chief of the National Guard Bureau
- United States Northern Command
- Later work
- NAACP Meritorious Service Award
- Civilian education
- Military education
- References
Early life and education
Blum was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 13, 1946. He attended Forest Park High School, graduating in 1963. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Baltimore in 1968.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chief of the National Guard Bureau
In April 2003 Blum was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to lieutenant general.
When his term expired in 2007 he received a two-year extension.
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, 2008 and was succeeded by Craig R. McKinley.
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.
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.
Later work
After his retirement from the military, Blum accepted a position as managing director and group practice leader with the Sitrick Brincko Group.
He was also an Executive in Residence at The Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, Division of Public Safety and Leadership.
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.
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. 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: