Brig. Gen. Gerald McDonald, who has served in the Connecticut National Guard for 30 years, has been named the next assistant adjutant general of the Connecticut Military Department, which includes 4,700 guardsmen and members of the State Militia.

McDonald joined the Connecticut Air National Guard in 1987, serving six years as a logistician before earning a commission through the Academy of Military Science in 1993 as an aircraft maintenance officer. Since then, he has held a number of logistics, maintenance and communications jobs within the Connecticut Air National Guard.

"For three decades, Brig. Gen. McDonald has served his state and nation with honor," Maj. Gen. Fran Evon, head of the Connecticut National Guard, said in a statement announcing McDonald's new job. "He brings a lot to the table in terms of experience, including key insight into how we will continue to advance our National Guard forward."

Previously, McDonald served as the commander of the Connecticut Air National Guard's 103rd Maintenance Group and the commander of the 103rd Logistics Group.

McDonald's operational experience includes a tour of duty in Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch, supporting air patrols in the no-fly zones over Iraq established after the 1991 Gulf War. In 2003, he deployed again to southwest Asia for what became Operation Iraqi Freedom, responsible for 150 maintenance personnel and all flight line activities for A-10 operations.