<p> Biography Brigade Commander 41st Brigade Combat Team</p><p>Colonel Cameron A. Crawford </p><p>Colonel Cameron A. Crawford of Salem is a native Oregonian, born August 27, 1956 in Portland. He grew up in Forest Grove, graduating from High School in 1974. A month later, at the age of 17, COL Crawford entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated June of 1978 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps. For the next 14 ½ years COL Crawford served as an active duty officer in permanent and temporary assignments worldwide, to include six months of service in the first Gulf War. His final active duty posting was as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Oregon State University. COL Crawford is a graduate of the Military Police Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.</p><p>COL Crawford immediately joined the Oregon Army National Guard upon departure from active duty in January 1993. He served in a variety of capacities, primarily within the 41st Separate Infantry Brigade. COL Crawford served as a citizen soldier while continuing to be employed full time in the community. He worked as a Regional Training Manager for the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (1993-1997), and (1997-August 2003) was the Training Manager for the Weyerhaeuser Company’s Albany Paper Mill. In August 2003 COL Crawford took military leave of absence from the Weyerhaeuser Company to accept a full-time tour as Deputy Brigade Commander for the 41st Infantry Brigade, Oregon Army National Guard. He assumed command of the Brigade in January 2006. The Brigade is headquartered in Tigard, Oregon and has approximately 3,500 soldiers assigned.</p><p>COL Crawford’s civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, a Master of Arts in Correctional Administration from Western Oregon University and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.</p><p>COL Crawford’s major awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, and the Parachutist Badge. </p>