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Garshak selected to lead Idaho's military
October 27, 2017
Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced today his selection of Colonel Michael J. Garshak to serve as Idaho’s next adjutant general. This appointment will take effect November 1 as outgoing Adjutant General and Idaho National Guard Commanding General, Major General Gary L. Sayler retires after serving Idaho since 1977.

Garshak currently serves as the Chief of Staff, Idaho Army National Guard, and will be Idaho’s 25th adjutant general upon his appointment.

In this capacity, Garshak will command the Idaho Army and Air National Guard, and as adjutant general, will serve on the governor’s cabinet as secretary of the Idaho Military Division. In this role, Garshak will also serve as the director of Idaho’s Office of Emergency Management.

“Colonel Garshak is a strong leader with a proven track record of success,” said Sayler. “He’s respected by his peers and those he has led throughout his career and I am very comfortable with this selection and confident he will continue to do great things for this organization.”

Garshak, who commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1987, has been a member of the Idaho National Guard since 1993 after serving on active duty for six years.

“I am truly honored and appreciate Governor Otter’s trust and confidence in my abilities,” Garshak said. “I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve Idaho and the nation in this capacity.”

Garshak is a Master Army Aviator with more than 2,300 flying hours, primarily in the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. In his current role, he is the principal executive assistant and advisor to the Assistant Adjutant General, Army.

He is responsible for assisting the Adjutant General in managing and directing the administration, coordination, planning, execution and supervision of all Idaho Army National Guard programs.

He has served as the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1-183rd Aviation Battalion commander; Aviation Task Force SFOR12 commander in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the aviation group commander/state Army Aviation officer at Gowen Field in Boise.

Garshak’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. In 1987 he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University and holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

Garshak and his wife, Dina, live in Meridian and have three children, Tara, Alaina and Blake.
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