Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry has served in the military for 38 years
Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry announced Wednesday he is retiring as Nevada’s 30th adjutant general effective Oct. 31. Berry, who has served 38 years in the military and the last five years as the state’s adjutant general, said he will work with Gov. Joe Lombardo to ensure a smooth transition. Lombardo is expected to appoint a new adjutant general in August to replace the longtime Nevada Air National Guard leader.
The 65-year-old Sparks resident, a retired Reno policeman and former senior vice president in the MGM Resorts International human resources office, became the state’s adjutant general on Sept. 7, 2019, after succeeding Brig. Gen. William Burks. Under existing federal and state law, Berry, Nevada’s first African-American who served as adjutant general, must retire when he becomes 66.
“The last five years serving you, the state of Nevada, our great country and our international partners represent the pinnacle of my 38-year military career — the absolute apex of my military, policing and private sector positions spanning four decades,” Berry announced in a letter sent to all state military personnel and civilians.
Berry enlisted in the Nevada Air National Guard in 1986 and was commissioned as an officer in 1990. He was named the assistant adjutant general of the Nevada Air National Guard in 2015. Berry oversees 4,400 Army and Air Guardsmen.
“The future is very bright for our visible and growing state thanks in large part to your efforts and service in the Nevada National Guard.”
“General Berry’s leadership has been a tremendous asset to the Nevada National Guard and our state,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “As he retires, we honor his decades of service and many contributions to Nevada. I extend my sincerest gratitude and best wishes for his well-deserved retirement.”
During Berry’s tenure as the adjutant general, the largest and longest activation of the Nevada National Guard occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In addition to the pandemic, Berry said the National Guard was deployed to CENTCOM, eastern Europe, the Horn of Africa, and other locations worldwide.
In January 2023, Berry and a party of eight soldiers from the Nevada Army National Guard visited the 137th Military Police Co., which was augmenting security operations at Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu International Airport. The MPs were assigned to a section used by the United States and NATO troops near the Black Sea resort city of Constanta.
During the short visit to Romania, Berry and the other soldiers praised the military police company for undertaking a critical role 300 miles from the Ukraine border. As a NATO partner aligned with the United States, Romania and many of its neighbors in Eastern Europe embraced NATO as a deterrence to any future aggression displayed by Russia.
Berry has also taken an active role in ensuring the growth of the State Partnership Program with the 2019 addition of a third state partner, Samoa. The other two partners are the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Fiji.
During his five years at the helm of the Nevada National Guard, Berry noted other programs that began in the state in his retirement letter to the troops.
“Additionally, we launched two programs to help youth in our state with the creation of the Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Carlin, Nevada, and STARBASE facilities in Reno and Henderson,” he pointed out. “From acquiring marksmanship ranges to putting the Division of Emergency Management under the Office of the Military, acquiring additional force structure, and numerous State and Federal Legislative wins, your hard work and commitment postured and positioned us to accomplish so much.”
By fiscal year 2025, the Nevada National Guard is expected to have a small arms training range built at the Hawthorne Army Depot. When he became adjutant general almost five years ago, Berry said the Nevada National Guard has had an important role in the state’s development since 1864. He said the Nevada National Guard has served the state and nation with distinction, class and excellence.
Because of his experience in working with the community in both his roles with law enforcement and the military, Berry touted the importance of both agencies working together.
Within the Nevada National Guard, programs have been implemented to help airmen, soldiers and civilian employees.
“Together, we established the Warrior Health and Support Services J9 Directorate in 2021,” he said. “We spearheaded a change in culture and resiliency in the force through Purple Resolve resiliency training. We have refined our Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program and thwarted the scourge of suicide in our ranks with the cooperation of the PTSD Now organization.”
Berry said significant strides were made to ensure the Nevada Guard has an inclusive and equitable work environment.
As the state’s adjutant general, Berry has been the face of the Nevada National Guard by attending numerous civic events such as the Vietnam Remembrance Day, Memorial Day and Wreaths Across America ceremonies.
During his career, Berry has worked on various commissions and boards after moving to Nevada in 1980 from Evansville, Indiana. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education degree from the University of Evansville, where he played as a running back for the Purple Aces football team. He received a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Nevada Reno and is also a graduate of the US Air Force War College.
Berry, who served 25 years with the Reno Police Department and retired as assistant police chief in 2005, said it’s time for him to pass the torch to new leadership or the next generation of leaders who will carry the Nevada National Guard into the future.
“It’s been my life’s honor and privilege to serve as Nevada’s adjutant general,” Berry said. “I will always be a proud, active and contributing member of our National Guard and state communities. The future is very bright for our visible and growing state thanks in large part to your efforts and service in the Nevada National Guard.”
