Gov. Kristi Noem has announced that Brig. Gen. Mark Morrell will be the next adjutant general of the South Dakota National Guard.
Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette has served as adjutant general since 2019 and will be retiring this year. The change of command will take place August 5.
“Our South Dakota National Guard serves with excellence in no small part due to their superb leadership,” Noem said. “Today, I have the privilege of honoring two tremendous leaders. Gen. Jeff Marlette has served with excellence through an unprecedented period for our South Dakota National Guard. I thank him for his advice, his counsel, and his long service in defense of our nation. However, I believe the men and women of the South Dakota National Guard will be in capable hands under Gen. Mark Morrell’s leadership.”
Morrell currently serves as deputy chief of staff at Joe Foss Field. He was also commander of the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard from 2019 to this past January.
“I am excited to serve as Gov. Noem’s next Adjutant General of the great state of South Dakota, and I thank her for the opportunity,” Morrell said. “I’d like to thank both Maj.Gen. Jeff Marlette and Brig.Gen. Greg Lair for challenging, supporting, and teaching me; and for the remarkable model of leadership and service they have lived out as citizen-warriors and leaders in the South Dakota National Guard for 40 plus years. As Adjutant General, I will endeavor to follow their example of leadership as service to others as a way of life.”
Morrell served as active duty for 12 years in the United States Air Force before returning home to the South Dakota Air National Guard. He has participated in training operations in Alaska, Jordan, Italy, Japan and South Korea. He has also been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak clusters and more.
