Major General Ronald H. Markarian

General Markarian was born and raised in Fresno, California. He graduated from Clovis High School in 1949 and started his military career in the Army National Guard in Fresno, CA that same year. After graduating from Fresno State College in 1952, he transferred to active duty in the US Air Force in 1953 and served as a navigator/bombardier and reconnaissance airman during the Vietnam Era. He flew 116 Combat missions over Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He also spent four years as an airman on a B-52 bomber crew during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War Era. He earned a Masters in Public Administration from George Washington University in 1964.

After 30 years in the Air Force, Gen Markarian retired and immediately transferred back into the Army National Guard State Reserve. He was appointed Deputy Commanding General of the State Reserve under Governor George Deukmejian. He retired as the commanding officer in 1995. Later he was appointed as the State Director for the California Selective Service System and remained as its director until his death in 2019.

During his long military career (1949-1995), General Markarian was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal, the Order of California Medal upon his retirement, among many other awards.

During and after his retirement, General Markarian was instrumental in advocating for the passage of legislation to establish the California Veteran’s Home in Central California. Additionally, General Markarian was a very active civic leader and served as the president of many military and non-military organizations locally, statewide, and nationally, including serving as 6^th Region President of the Association of the United States Army, and national president of the State Guard Association of the US.

MG Markarian passed away from natural causes at the age of 88 In 2019, but before he died, he established the MG Ronald H Markarian Charitable Foundation, dedicated to helping active-duty military and retired veterans along with many other causes related to the military mission.