Oklahoma National Guardsman promoted to brigadier general

OKLAHOMA CITY-Oklahoma Army National Guardsman Col. Kyle Goerke will be promoted to the rank of brigadier general in a ceremony at the Oklahoma State Capitol today.  The ceremony will take place in the Capitol's Blue Room at 2:30 p.m.

Goerke began his military career in the Oklahoma Army National Guard upon receipt of a direct commission into the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps in Oct. 1988.  On Nov. 1, 2010, Goerke was appointed to his current assignment as the Army National Guard Assistant to the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army.

Goerke was born, raised and still resides in Watonga, Okla., where he graduated from high school in 1977. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.  He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal Courts.

His military education includes the Senior Service College Fellowship, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University; the Army Command and General Staff College; Military Personnel and Administration Course; the Law of War Course; the Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course; and the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course.

Goerke has held a variety of military positions, most recently as the State Judge Advocate for the Oklahoma Army National Guard.  His other assignments include: trial/defense counsel, State Area Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard; deputy staff judge advocate, 45th Infantry Brigade; command judge advocate, 45th Field Artillery Brigade; staff judge advocate, 45th Infantry Brigade; senior rule of law officer, office of military cooperation-Afghanistan; the U.S. Army War College; and command judge advocate, Joint Area Support Group-Central, Baghdad, Iraq.

He served as a Rule of Law Advisor for the United States Department of State, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, and as a Senior Rule of Law Advisor for the United States Department of State in Baghdad, Iraq.

Goerke's awards include the Bronze Star Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster; National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star; Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass Device, M Device and Bronze Numeral 2.  Goerke has also earned the Combat Action Badge with Star and the Air Assault Badge.

Goerke operates his own law practice in Watonga.  He has six children, Austin, Kale, Zakrey, Amber, Kimri and Morgan.