Pardy, Van der Wolde receive promotions to brigadier general in SD National Guard

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Patrick Pardy of Howard was promoted on Monday to the rank of brigadier general in the South Dakota Army National Guard. He will serve as the land component commander for Joint Force Headquarters in Rapid City. Pardy will be the Golden Coyote training exercise commander, and will be responsible for planning, coordination, resourcing, and execution of the exercise. He will also serve as the deputy director for the SD National Guard joint staff, and as joint task force commander if activated during an emergency.

“Being promoted to brigadier general is the single greatest honor of my military career and it is the culmination of all the great work done by the leaders, peers and soldiers I have been lucky enough to work with – all of whom I will be eternally grateful to,” Pardy said. “I am also the recipient of the love and support of an amazing family, which was the number one factor to my making it to this point in my career. Finally, I must thank Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette for the confidence he has shown in me with this selection.”

Pardy has more than 34 years of military service stretching back to his first enlistment with the SD National Guard in 1986, where he served as a combat engineer. He received his commission as an engineering officer through the University of South Dakota Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) in 1992. Pardy holds a bachelors and juris doctorate degree from the University of South Dakota, and a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. His command assignments include Company B, 153rd Engineer Battalion, 153rd Engineer Battalion, and 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. Pardy also serves as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Third Judicial Circuit in Madison.

Pardy has been on multiple combat deployments, with two deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Edwin Van der Wolde was promoted on Monday to the rank of brigadier general in the South Dakota Army National Guard. He will serve as the director of the joint staff and as principle adviser to SD National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette on all joint issues and policies relating to the defense support for civil authorities and homeland defense programs. Van der Wolde will also oversee joint strategic planning and training to enhance the readiness of the Army and Air Guard.

Van der Wolde replaces Brig. Gen. Marshall Michels, who retired after 37 years of military service.

“I am truly humbled for this great privilege to serve as director of joint staff for the greatest airmen and soldiers in the nation,” VanDerWolde said. “There is a lot of work ahead of us in the next few years, but I know the men and women of the South Dakota National Guard are trained and ready for the challenges.”

Van der Wolde has more than 37 years of military service stretching back to his first enlistment with the SD National Guard as a supply training specialist in 1983. He received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1997. Van der Wolde holds a baccalaureate degree in business administration from Sioux Falls College in 1991. His command assignments include 114th Fighter Wing vice commander, 114th Mission Support Group commander, deputy commander of the 114th Maintenance Group, and commander of the 114th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Van der Wolde deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008.