[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 170 (Monday, October 28, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE LIFE OF MAJOR GENERAL RONALD HRANT MARKARIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 28, 2019

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
the life of Major General Ronald Hrant Markarian, who passed away on 
October 12, 2019. Major General Markarian valiantly served our country 
for 46 years in the California Army National Guard and the Air Force.
  Major General Markarian was born in Fresno, California on June 27, 
1931 to Theodore and Rose Markarian. He graduated from Clovis High 
School and was a member of the California Cadet Core. While in high 
school, Major General Markarian joined the California National Guard. 
He was in the Heavy Mortar Company of the 185th Infantry Regiment for 
three years. He then attended California State University, Fresno. 
During that time, he enrolled in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training 
Corps. After graduation, Major General Markarian joined the United 
States Air Force. His assignments included duties such as B-47 and B-52 
strategic bombers. In 1964 he completed his master's degree in public 
administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
  Major General Markarian was also Chief of Air Reconnaissance 
Operations in Southeast Asia. He flew 116 Reconnaissance missions 
during that time. One of his duty stations was in Hawaii and he served 
as the Pacific Air Forces Director of Plans and Programs. He was 
Commander of the 548th Reconnaissance Technical Group. Major General 
Markarian also worked for six years at the Pentagon and was the Chief 
of Air Reconnaissance Systems and Director of the United States Air 
Force Intelligence Reserve Forces.
  After 30 years of military service, Major General Markarian retired 
in August 1980 as a Full Bird Colonel in the Air Force. His need to 
serve did not end at his retirement. In 1987, Major General Markarian 
was nominated by California Governor George Deukmejian to be appointed 
by President Ronald Reagan as California State Director for the 
Selective Service System. Later, Pete Wilson, Governor of California 
then appointed him to be the California Commission for the 
Commemoration of the Second World War. He was appointed Commanding 
General of the California State Reserve and later promoted to Major 
General in 1990. In 1994, he was appointed to the California Veterans 
Board. Major General Markarian retired with 46 years of uniformed 
military service in October of 1995 after he became a member of the 
California State Military Reserve.
  Major General Markarian's commitment to public service and our 
country is truly remarkable and he was a key leader in the community in 
many capacities even after his military years. He was a founding member 
of the Central California Veterans Home Support Foundation (CCVHSF) and 
assisted in acquiring the land for the California Veterans Home in 
Fresno where he lived during the later years of his life. Major General 
Markarian was the president of Central California Chapter of the 
Association of the United States Army, American Red Cross and the 
Military Intelligence Corps Association.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of 
Major General Ronald Hrant Markarian. His service to our nation and 
contributions to veterans in the Central Valley will not be forgotten.

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