FARGO – Over the weekend, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Armed Services Committee member, attended a North Dakota National Guard ceremony honoring Brigadier General Todd Branden for his retirement and celebrating the promotion of Darrin Anderson as his replacement. Senator Cramer delivered remarks praising the work of General Branden and congratulating General Anderson on his promotion.
“North Dakota’s National Guard represents the best of the best, and that starts with the excellent leadership at the top,” said Senator Cramer. “I am grateful to General Branden for his years of service and thankful to General Anderson for answering the call to serve our country. The United States is a safer and more secure place because of the work done by our guardsmen.”
General Branden served as the Assistant Adjutant General – Air for the North Dakota National Guard. He was responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans, and programs for all units. He began his career in 1979 by enlisting with the 119th Fighter Wing serving as a Traffic Management Specialist in the Resource Management Squadron in Fargo before holding numerous positions throughout the wing and state levels.
He is replaced by Valley City native Darrin Anderson who most recently served as the Commander of the 119th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Group of the 119th Wing at the North Dakota Air National Guard. There, he was responsible for leading an organization of 206 authorized personnel conducting kinetic and non-kinetic target development and finished intelligence production in support of global Air Operations Centers, Combatant Commander operations plans, and contingency operations. General Anderson began his military career in 1983 when he enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard as a Security Specialist.
