'I love being a citizen-soldier and proudly serving my state and country'
Son Ben and wife Cassie pin silver general officer stars to the shoulders of Brig. Gen. Ryan Robinson at the state capitol during a promotion ceremony Thursday, June 2, in Boise. Robinson, a resident of Sandpoint and member of the Idaho National Guard, will serve as the director of the joint staff for the Idaho Military Division.
(Photo courtesy IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD)
Adjutant General of Idaho Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, Col. Ryan Robinson and Gov. Brad Little prepare for the publishing of the order promoting Robinson to the rank of brigadier general, at a ceremony held June 2, at the state capitol in Boise.
SANDPOINT — More than 26 years ago, Ryan Robinson accepted his commission in the Idaho Army National Guard.
Thursday, the Sandpoint resident returned to the Idaho Capitol where he was promoted to brigadier general by Gov. Brad Little.
“I am truly honored and humbled to be selected for this position,” Robinson said. “I love being a citizen-soldier and proudly serving my state and country in times of need. I look forward to serving at this level of responsibility, leading the organization and making strategic decisions, while taking care of soldiers and airmen.”
Robinson will serve as the director of the joint staff for the Idaho Military Division, according to a press release from the Idaho National Guard.
The joint staff proactively coordinates, plans and exercises for notice and no-notice events that would adversely affect the population and facilities in the state of Idaho, National Guard officials said in the release. The director of the joint staff provides timely and appropriate Idaho National Guard capabilities to respond to incidents and mitigate suffering and loss as well as mobilization and deployment of joint task forces. The director of joint staff also supervises and directs the state partnership program, counter-drug activities and the 101st Civil Support Team.
“This is a great day, not only for Brig. Gen. Robinson and his family, but also for the Idaho National Guard and the state of Idaho,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho. “Brig. Gen. Robinson is clearly the best qualified officer to lead our joint staff whose mission is to prepare for and respond to domestic operations in support of civil authorities. His career as a traditional Guardsman makes him uniquely qualified for this mission.”
Much of his Guard career has been spent in North Idaho as a part-time citizen-soldier while working in corporate finance. He has deployed to Iraq twice and in 2011 earned the bronze star for meritorious service in a combat zone.
Robinson earned his commission in May 1996 through Boise State University after graduating high school at Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Wash., where his parents still live. He became a quartermaster officer and was assigned as a platoon leader with A Company, 145th Brigade Support Battalion in Caldwell. After serving in the Washington Army National Guard from for four years until 2001, Robinson transferred back to the Idaho Army National Guard. He would spend the next 15 years of his career in various positions in North Idaho, including as the 116th Engineer Battalion’s logistics officer in Lewiston from 2001 to 2003.
He was then appointed company commander of C Company, 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Post Falls, which required him to become qualified as an engineer officer.
As commander, he prepared his company for the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s 2004 deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III and was promoted to captain. However, an injury sustained while training kept him from deploying with his troops. Robinson later joined up with the brigade in Iraq as the battalion’s communications officer and was assigned as the economic development officer for Northern Iraq.
Robinson used his expertise in finance and economic development to advise Iraqis on how to build and run business center and a separate micro-finance center. A few years later, Robinson returned to Iraq in 2006 and worked with the State Department to help build six additional business centers.
He would be deployed to Iraq again in 2010 in support of Operation New Dawn after the 116th Engineer Battalion transitioned to the 145th Brigade Support Battalion, National Guard officials said. As a major, Robinson was assigned as the battalion’s executive officer and served as the garrison command’s resource manager in Baghdad while deployed.
While there, Robinson oversaw the execution of more than $200 million in government contracts for base life support and other activities of three large forward operating bases, according to the National Guard.
As the U.S. began withdrawing from Iraq, the Sandpoint resident also helped close several bases and with the redeployment of equipment.
Robinson was appointed the 145th Brigade Support Battalion’s commander in 2011 and promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2012. As a battalion commander, Robinson oversaw more than 600 soldiers in multiple companies located throughout North Idaho and participated in training exercises in Canada and Cambodia.
After battalion command, Robinson attended the U.S. Army War College and held various positions within Joint Force Headquarters-Idaho in Boise. He was appointed commander of the Installation Support Unit in 2017 and promoted to colonel in 2018.
After his command tour ended, Robinson became the chief of the joint staff, Idaho National Guard, officials said. He also served as the director of domestic operations and has completed the Defense Support to Civil Authority Course, the Joint Task Force Commanders Course and the Dual Status Commanders Course and graduated from the National Defense University.
