Robert Ostenberg

A native of Scottsbluff, Neb., Maj. Gen. Ostenberg graduated from Principia College with a BA in economics in 1969 and began his military career as an enlisted soldier. He attended the Infantry Officers Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in September 1970. He served in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972 as a platoon leader with the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry and with the 1st Regiment, 1st Cavalry of the 23d Infantry Division.

Following active duty, Maj. Gen. Ostenberg joined the Army Reserve and was assigned to the 91st Division (Training), in San Jose, Calif. His assignments there included Training Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion Logistics Officer, 361st Regiment; Commander of the Leadership Academy; Committee Chief, Heavy Weapons Committee; Commander, 3rd Battalion, 362nd Regiment, 3rd Brigade; Assistant Chief of Staff, G1; Chief, Administration and Logistics Branch, Maneuver Training Command; Deputy Commander, Maneuver Training Command; Commander, 2nd Brigade; Division Chief of Staff; Commander, 3rd Brigade, 91st Division (Exercise); and Deputy Division Commander (Training).

In 1998, Maj. Gen. Ostenberg was appointed Deputy Commanding General of the 63rd Regional Readiness Command, Los Alamitos, Calif. In 2000 he was named Acting Chief of Staff, United States Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Ga. Later that year he resumed his Deputy Commanding General duties at the 63rd Regional Support Command. In 2001, he became the Commanding General of the 63rd Regional Support Command and, in 2003, he became the Commanding General of the 63rd Regional Readiness Command.

In July 2005 thru October 2008, Maj. Gen. Ostenberg served as Director, Reserve Forces, with additional duty as one of five Domestic Attack Assessors, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Maj. Gen. Ostenberg’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Bronze Star with “V” device (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver and Bronze oak Leaf Clusters), the Air Medal (with numeral 2), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (with two bronze service stars), the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

His military education includes Airborne School, Jungle Operations, Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.