During ceremonies over the weekend (Jan. 9, 2021), Patrick Pardy of Howard and Edwin VanDerWolde were both promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the South Dakota Army National Guard.
Pardy’s ceremony was at Camp Rapid and VanDerWolde’s ceremony was held at Joe Foss Field.
Pardy will serve as the land component commander for Joint Force Headquarters in Rapid City.
“Being promoted to brigadier general is the single greatest honor of my military career and it is the culmination of all the great work done by the leaders, peers and soldiers I have been lucky enough to work with – all of whom I will be eternally grateful to,” Pardy said. “I am also the recipient of the love and support of an amazing family, which was the number one factor to my making it to this point in my career. Finally, I must thank Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette for the confidence he has shown in me with this selection.”
Photo credit South Dakota Army National Guard.
In this position, Pardy will serve as the Golden Coyote training exercise commander, responsible for planning, coordination, resourcing and execution of the exercise. His assignment also includes serving as the deputy director of the SDNG joint staff; and he will serve as the joint task force commander when activated in times of emergency – ensuring planning and execution for assigned missions.
Pardy has over 34 years of military service, first enlisting in the SDNG in 1986 as a combat engineer. In 1992, he received his commission as an engineer officer through the University of South Dakota ROTC program.
During his career, Pardy served in a variety of command and staff positions, such as engineer platoon leader and intelligence officer and operations officer positions at the battalion, brigade and state levels. His command assignments include Company B, 153rd Engineer Battalion, 153rd Engineer Battalion, and 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
Pardy has also served on multiple combat deployments – deploying twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pardy holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Juris Doctorate degree from the University of South Dakota, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.
In his civilian career, Pardy serves as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Third Judicial Circuit in Madison.
VanDerWolde serves as the director of the joint staff and is the principal advisor to the SDNG Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette on all joint issues and policies relating to the defense support to civil authorities and homeland defense programs. He also oversees joint strategic planning and training to enhance the readiness of the Army and Air Guard.
VanDerWolde replaces Brig. Gen. Marshall Michels who retired after 37 years of military service.
“I am truly humbled for this great privilege to serve as director of joint staff for the greatest airmen and soldiers in the nation,” VanDerWolde said. “There is a lot of work ahead of us in the next few years, but I know the men and women of the South Dakota National Guard are trained and ready for the challenges.”
Photo credit South Dakota Army National Guard.
VanDerWolde’s service in the military spans more than 37 years, where he first enlisted into the South Dakota Air National Guard as a supply training specialist in 1983. He received his Baccalaureate Degree in Business Administration from Sioux Falls College in 1991. In 1997, he received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, Tennessee.
During his career, VanDerWolde has held a variety of command positions, which include 114th Fighter Wing vice commander, 114th Mission Support Group commander, deputy commander of the 114th Maintenance Group, and commander of the 114th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
In 2008, VanDerWolde deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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