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FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Texas Adjutant General Tom Suelzer Announces New Commanding General of the Texas National Guard's 36th Infantry Division

AUSTIN, Texas (March 17, 2022) – Major General Tom Suelzer, Adjutant General of Texas, has selected Brigadier General Ronald W. Burkett II (Win) to serve as Commanding General of the Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division, effective today, March 17, 2022. The 36th Infantry Division’s Commanding General leads more than 16,000 Texas National Guard troops, which serve our state and nation both at home and abroad. Brig. Gen. Burkett will replace Major General Charles Aris, who today announced his retirement following 34 years of faithful service. 

During the 36th Infantry Division’s nearly 105 year history, the Division has supported both World Wars, the War on Terror, numerous natural disaster responses across Texas, and has played a key role in border security and efforts to reduce drug trafficking. Additionally, the Division most recently returned from Kuwait in July 2021 having served as the Command and Control Headquarters for Operation Spartan Shield in the U.S. CENTCOM area of responsibility.

“I thank General Aris for his more than three decades of service to our country, and for his leadership both overseas and at the Texas Military Department,” said Texas Adjutant General Tom Suelzer. “I am honored to announce my selection of Brigadier General Win Burkett, as the new Commanding General of the 36th Infantry Division. General Burkett’s extensive operational experience, to include having served as the Deputy Commanding General for the 36th Infantry Division, as well as his many years of servant leadership make him the perfect choice to lead the Arrowhead Division.”

Brig. Gen. Ronald W. Burkett II (Win) previously served as Deputy Commanding General for United States Army North (Fifth Army), focused on Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Theater Support Coordination Activities.

Over the course of nearly 30 years, including six deployments, Brig. Gen. Burkett has commanded units at every grade from Captain to Colonel, and has completed numerous tactical, operational, and strategic level staff assignments. Brig. Gen. Burkett’s key assignments include Commander, 36th Aviation Brigade, Texas State Aviation Officer; Chief, National Guard Bureau (NGB) Strategic Plans and Policy Division, and Deputy Director, NGB Joint Action Control Office; Commander National Support Elements in Pristina, Kosovo, and Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Commander Division HHC, and command of three additional companies in Attack Aviation units.

Brig. Gen. Burkett graduated and received his ROTC commission from Southwest Texas State University in 1989. He holds a Master of Arts from Eastern Kentucky University in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management, and a Master of Science from the National Defense University in Campaign Planning and Strategic Studies. Additionally, he has completed an Executive Leader Study Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in International and National Security.

Brig. Gen. Burkett and his wife Molly reside in Austin, Texas, and have three children.    

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Office of State Administration (formerly the Office of the Executive Director), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG) and the Texas State Guard (TXSG).

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.