User:Stephee2/sandbox

Deborah Ashenhurst
Major General Deborah Ashenhurst served in the Ohio National Guard for 40 years and now hold the Veterans Services Cabinet Position. Deborah Ashenhurst grew up in Springfield and Columbus Ohio and now married to James Ashenhurst who is a retired Army Colonel. General Ashenhurst served 37 years and began her career in 1978 by enlisting into the Ohio Army National Guard. In 1980 she was commissioned as an Engineer Officer through the Ohio Army Guard’s Officer Candidate School. She then served as a reconnaissance officer with the 54th support center. Ashenhurst has commanded and has held staff officer assignments at all levels from battalion, company, brigade, and Joint Force Headquarters. More recent assignments include the Commanding General, 73rd Troop Command, Commander, 237th personnel Services Battalion, and Director, Property and Fiscal Operations, United States Property and Fiscal Office for Ohio.

Deborah Ashenhurst studied at three different places throughout her career. In 1994 she studied at The University of the State of New York and received her Bachelor of Science, Sociology in Albany New York. In 1995 she attended the United States Air War College and in 1999 she attended the United States Army War college. Both by correspondence.

First Female Adjutant General
In 2011, Deborah Ashenhurst serves as the first female adjutant general in Ohio. The move was approved by the 133rd General Assembly of the Ohio Legislature. Ashenhurst started her duties in charge of the state-run agency which advocates for Ohio’s former service members. There are currently two female adjutant females in the country including Ohio and California. Ashenhurst was selected by Governor John Kasich as the state’s 81st adjutant general in December of 2011 because of her experience and knowledge in the homeland security duties and commanding a brigade of 3,000 guard members. Prior to being assigned the position of the adjutant general, she was a 25-year federal employee in positions with the United States Property and Fiscal Office.

Serbia
Deborah Ashenhurst visits Serbia as part of the ongoing National Guard State Partnership Program promoting and coordinating activities between Serbia and Ohio. The United States is rated as one of the most successful cooperation programs of a total of 62 programs. There are 28 members of the ONG specialists with the members of the defense system and the Serbian Interior Ministry. Ashenhurst promoted the first generation of women officers in Serbia with her relations of being the first women to command the Ohio National Guard.