SANDSTON, Va. –
Col. Marti J. Bissell was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 2018, in Arlington, Virginia, and she will serve as the Commander and Senior Military Representative at North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters, Sarajevo. A transfer of authority ceremony is scheduled for July 9. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, the Chief of National Guard Bureau, officiated the promotion ceremony, and Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, administered the oath of office.
“Brig. Gen. Bissell’s promotion is certainly a recognition of her capacity to serve at the next level,” Williams said. “In this case, it’s also a recognition of her ability to lead with her experience and expertise in full view at NATO on the international stage. Marti is the epitome of what the Virginia National Guard works to create in its senior leaders, and this accomplishment should serve as an example to everyone in our organization as to what you can achieve through hard work and consistently outstanding duty performance.”
Bissell most recently served as the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff Chief of Staff since August 2017 after returning from a federal active duty deployment with the 29th Infantry Division (Forward) in the Central Command area of operations as the chief of staff. She commanded the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 91st Troop Command from August 2013 to May 2015, then served as Executive Officer to the Vice Chief and later Chief of National Guard Bureau prior to her deployment with the 29th ID.
Bissell is a distinguished military graduate of Oregon State University graduating in 1988 with a degree in accounting and a commission as an aviation officer. Over the course of her career, she served as a platoon leader, executive officer, VIP support platoon leader, assistant operations officer, company commander, aviation maintenance officer, assistant executive officer, assistant team chief, division aviation officer and commander of the Joint National Guard Augmentation Unit.
Bissell completed the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Aviation Officer Advanced Course, UH-60 Blackhawk Qualification Course, Maintenance Manager and UH-60 Maintenance Test Pilot Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff Course, Reserve Component Multi Functional CSS School, and Command and General Staff College, Army War College and Advanced Joint Professional Military Education. Her assignments have taken her such places as Korea, Germany, Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Sandston, Virginia, Suffolk, Virginia, Jordan and the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
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BG Bissell Promotion