[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 91 (Thursday, May 29, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF MAJOR GENERAL JOHN C. HARRIS, JR. UPON HIS 
       RETIREMENT AS ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT E. LATTA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2025

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I, along with members of the Ohio Delegation, 
would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Major General John 
C. Harris, Jr., on his retirement as Adjutant General of the Ohio 
National Guard. During General Harris's career in the Ohio National 
Guard, he held a wide range of leadership positions, culminating in 
service as a key member of Governor DeWine's cabinet. Governor DeWine 
announced General Harris's retirement and nomination to be the next 
director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs.
  General Harris began his military career in 1981 when he enlisted in 
the Ohio Army National Guard. He was assigned to the 107th Armored 
Cavalry Regiment located in Worthington, Ohio where he was part of 
their Attack Helicopter Troop. Through Officer Candidate School, he 
received his commission in 1984 and became the section leader for the 
Attack Helicopter Troop at his original station in Worthington. In 
1988, General Harris became Aide-de-Camp to Major General Richard 
Alexander, Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard.
  Throughout the 1990's and 2000's, General Harris held multiple 
leadership positions for several National Guard posts including 
Executive Officer of the 2-107th Cavalry in Kettering, Ohio, Assistant 
Chief of Staff at Headquarters State Area Command, Deputy Chief of 
Staff for Personnel OHARNG Element, and Chief of Staff, Ohio Army 
National Guard in Columbus, Ohio. In 2011, General Harris was appointed 
Assistant Adjutant General for Army by Governor John Kasich. On 
December 12, 2014, he was promoted to his current rank of Major 
General.
  In 2018, then Governor-elect Mike DeWine nominated General Harris to 
succeed General Mark Bartman as Ohio Adjutant General. On January 14, 
2019, Major General Harris was sworn in as the 83rd Adjutant General of 
the Ohio National Guard. Since then, General Harris has been a 
steadfast and capable leader of the Ohio National Guard. He has been 
instrumental in the creation of the Ohio Cyber Reserve as well as the 
conversion of the Mansfield Air National Guard Wing to the 179th 
Cyberspace Wing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his strong leadership 
allowed the National Guard to respond across the state and assist 
hospitals and Ohioans in need.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute 
to Major General John Harris, on his retirement from the Ohio National 
Guard. On behalf of the citizens of Ohio, I wish General Harris all the 
best as he assumes his new position as Director of the Ohio Department 
of Veterans Affairs. I along with the entire Ohio Delegation thank him 
for his forty-four years of service to Ohio and our Nation.

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