FRANKFORT, Ky. –
Brig. Gen. Haldane (Hal) B. Lamberton, who served more than 35 years in uniform, is the state’s new adjutant general appointed by Governor Andy Beshear. This was Beshear's first act as Commander-in-Chief.
Lamberton was sworn into office shortly after midnight, Dec. 10, succeeding Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Hogan who has served in the role since 2015.
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“No position is more important in a time of crisis than that of Adjutant General,” said Beshear, during the appointment press conference. “Any Kentuckian can tell you how critical that roll is during any national disaster.”
As Kentucky’s 53nd adjutant general, Lamberton will command the nearly 8,000 military members of the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard. He will also oversee the statewide Department of Military Affairs, Kentucky Emergency Management, the Appalachian and Bluegrass Challenge Academies and Bluegrass Station in Avon, Kentucky.
Lamberton brings a rucksack full of experience to the team. His last command position in the Kentucky National Guard before retirement was the commander of the 238th Regiment in Greenville, Ky. He is an infantryman by trade with five operational deployments to include service in Honduras, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Germany and Iraq. He has a degree from the University of Kentucky in Psychology and earned a masters degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College in June 2009. He is Ranger qualified as well as Air Assault and Airborne.
Lamberton commissioned through the Reserves Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Kentucky in May of 1986.
His significant active duty assignments include Infantry Platoon and Mortar Platoon Leader for the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg North Carolina; Rifle Company Executive Officer with the 504th; S-1 and Rifle Company Commander for the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea.
For the National Guard, he served in many positions from the 149th Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, Commander of 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry, 42nd Infantry Division, Director of Military Support, Director of Human Resources, and Director of Logistics.
Among the incoming TAG’s numerous awards, Lamberton has received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist wings with a combat star, the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
“It’s a genuine honor a privilege to be back in uniform and serving with the other men and women of both the Army and the Air National Guard in the state,” said Lamberton.