CAMP GRAFTON TRAINING CENTER, ND – The Land Component Command of the North Dakota National Guard welcomed a new leader today after completing a change of command at Camp Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake. Major General Al Dohrmann, Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard, presided over the ceremony.

The outgoing commander, the brigadier. Gen. Leo Ryan, has led over 3,000 ND Guard soldiers since September 2018. Col. Jonathan Erickson assumed command of the Land Component Command during the ceremony.

“The citizens of North Dakota are well served by the unwavering dedication of our National Guard soldiers, in part thanks to outstanding leaders like Brig. General Leo Ryan, ”said Governor Doug Burgum, Commander-in-Chief of the ND National Guard. “Our well-trained Guard Soldiers continually answer the call of duty here at home and across the country and the world. We are deeply grateful to the sergeant. General Ryan for his service to North Dakota and to the nation.

The change of command ceremony is a military tradition that allows soldiers to visualize the formal transfer of responsibility from one individual to another. As the orders formally designating the new commander are read aloud, the unit’s colors (flag) are passed from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander.

“I am extremely grateful for the level of service and dedication shown by the brigadier. General Ryan during his 36 years in the ND National Guard, ”Dohrmann said. “His dedication to caring for soldiers and ensuring they were properly trained and ready to respond when called up ensured the success of our mission. We wish him a well-deserved retirement.

Dohrmann cited the National Guard’s successful support to the state’s response to COVID-19, wildfire response and multiple domestic and foreign deployments during Ryan’s tenure as commander.

A native of Jamestown, North Dakota, Ryan enlisted in 1985 as a deck crew member with the 957th Engineer Company. In 1992 he completed the Officer Candidate School and was appointed Second Lieutenant. He held many key positions within the ND Army National Guard. He commanded the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment; the ND Army National Guard Officer Candidate School and the 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute.

Ryan has served overseas twice. In 1990, he was deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as a squad leader with the 132nd Quartermaster Company. He was deployed again in 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Executive Officer of the 164th Engineer Battalion.

A traditional custodian, Ryan is the owner and practicing lawyer of Dalsted and Ryan, PC with offices in Jamestown and Carrington, North Dakota. He is a graduate of the US Army Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Air Assault School, and Command and Staff College. Ryan received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota in 1992 and his law degree from the University of North Dakota Law School in 1997. He received a master’s degree in strategic studies from the University of North Dakota. US Army War College in 2014.

“Thank you to everyone who trusted me, I really appreciate the support I received,” Ryan said, addressing the audience at the ceremony. “It has been an honor to serve alongside the soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard and my command team, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rob Dorneman and Command Sgt. Major Derek Heck. Whenever we have faced challenges, we have done it together.

Ryan’s awards and decorations include Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards), Army Commendation Medal (four awards), Army Achievement Medal (four awards) ), the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (second prize), the Southwest Asia Service Medal (with three campaign stars), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with M device and Silver Hour Glass), World War on Terror Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star ), the North Dakota National Guard Commendation Ribbon, the North Dakota National Guard Emergency Service Ribbon, and the Meritorious Unity Citation (a group of bronze oak leaves).

After Ryan thanked the audience, Erickson addressed the soldiers in attendance.

“I appreciate the faith and trust placed in me by the adjutant general who chose me for this command,” said Erickson. “I will work hard every day to ensure my best efforts and commitment to all National Guard soldiers in this command. It is quality soldiers like you who make our organization one of the best National Guard units in the country and I am proud to serve with you.

Erickson brings nearly three decades of experience to his new assignment. In 1994, he was appointed Military Intelligence Officer in the ROTC program at the University of North Dakota. His assignments include the Headquarters and Battery Command at Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas, where he deployed his unit to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch in 2000; Command of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which deployed to the National Capital Region in support of Operation Noble Eagle in 2013; and Command of the 141st Maneuver Improvement Brigade, Fargo, where he served as a multinational force commander during Operation Saber Guardian in Romania in 2019.

He is a graduate of Basic and Advanced Military Intelligence Officer Courses, Signal Intelligence Electronic Warfare Officer School, Combined Arms and Service Staff School, Transition Course Air Defense Artillery Officer and Command and Staff College. He received a Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College in 2014.

Its awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), the Army Commendation Medal (4 awards), the Achievement Medal service, the Army Achievement Medal (3 awards), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign. Medal, NATO medal and combat action badge. He is a recipient of the Ancient and Honorable Orders of Saint Barbara.

In addition to commanding the Land Component Command of the ND National Guard, Erickson will continue to serve as the full-time Director of the Joint Chiefs of the North Dakota National Guard.

In honor of his service and accomplishments over the past three years, Dohrmann awarded Ryan the North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal.