Major General Larry W. Shellito has been a member of the United States Army and the Minnesota Army National Guard for 41 years and currently serves as the Adjutant General for the Minnesota National Guard. He was appointed to the State’s top military position by Governor Tim Pawlenty in November 2003 and commands more than 13,000 members of the Minnesota Army and Air National Guard. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1968 and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant that same year. He served for a year in Vietnam as a Mobile Advisory Team Senior Advisor and joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1973. During his military career, MG Shellito has commanded soldiers at the company, battalion, brigade and division levels. Prior to his appointment to Adjutant General, MG Shellito served as the Commander of the 34th Infantry Division. MG Shellito’s military education includes Command and General Staff College, Defense Strategy Course, and United States Army War College. MG Shellito holds two Bachelor Degrees (B.A. in Accounting / Business Administration, B.S. in Distributive Education) from Minnesota State University – Moorhead, a Master’s Degree (M.S.) from Minnesota State University – Moorhead (Business Education) and a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of Minnesota. MG Shellito’s military awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (four Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (one Bronze Star), Vietnam Service Medal (two Bronze Stars), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (one Hourglass Device), Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (one Bronze Star), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (two). MG Shellito and his wife, Evonne, currently reside in Woodbury, MN. They have two adult daughters and three grandchildren.