29th Division announces new senior leadership positions for Lake, Murray
By Capt Dylan Bradford
FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Maryland Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Jared D. Lake succeeded Virginia Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Dale L. Murray as the 29th Infantry Division Assistant Division Commander for Support. Lake was promoted to brigadier general effective Aug. 5, 2025. Murray began serving as the 29th ID’s Assistant Division Commander for Operations effective Aug. 3, 2025, after two years as ADC-S, succeeding Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Samulski, when he took command of the 29th ID.
“Brig. Gen. Lake is an exceptional officer, and both the Maryland National Guard and the 29th Infantry Division are fortunate to have him on our team,” said Murray. “I look forward to continuing to serve with the 29th Infantry Division in this new role as we prepare for a Warfighter exercise and other overseas deployments.”
Lake, who served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard for 31 years, officially assumed the new role from Murray last month. Lake is now responsible for overseeing and synchronizing the Command and Control, Protection, and Sustainment warfighting functions.
Most recently, Lake commanded the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from July 2022 to June 2025, leading more than 4,200 Soldiers and overseeing $500 million in equipment. Under his leadership, the 116th was the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate an approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team during a 21-day Exportable Combat Training Capability rotation. The Army assessed the brigade’s performance as outstanding, validating its ability to conduct complex brigade-level operations under realistic and stressful combat conditions.
Over the course of his career, Lake deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. He mobilized with the 29th Infantry Division headquarters in support of national security missions during the U.S. Capitol riots and Presidential Inauguration, serving as deputy commander for a joint force of more than 12,000 Soldiers and Airmen from 26 states. He has commanded at every level from company to brigade and held staff assignments, including division chief of staff and positions at every echelon between battalion and corps, to include the International Security Assistance Force joint command.
Lake is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Joint Combined Warfighter School, Joint Task Force Commander Course, and the Field Artillery Captain’s Career and Officer Basic Courses.
“I am excited for the opportunity to return to the legendary 29th Infantry Division at this pivotal moment as we undergo continuous transformation in support of the Chief of Staff of the Army’s number one priority,” said Lake, who was officially promoted to brigadier general during a ceremony at Well Field House on Fort Belvoir, October 19, 2025. “As we prepare for large-scale combat operations to fight the nation’s wars tonight, we remain committed to continue meeting our state missions in support of the state and community.”
Murray, now serving as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations, oversees synchronization of maneuver, intelligence, and fires warfighting functions. He was a member of the Maryland Army National Guard in his previous role with the 29th ID.
With more than 25 years of service, Murray commanded at every echelon from company through brigade. While serving with the Alabama Army National Guard, he served as Senior Advisor to the Commander of NATO Multinational Corps–Southeast in Sibiu, Romania, where he supported Romanian Land Forces’ efforts to accelerate the establishment of the corps headquarters to bolster NATO’s eastern flank.
Murray previously commanded the 226th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Mobile, Alabama, leading the unit through two Warfighter exercises and the response to Hurricane Sally. He also commanded Area Support Group–Black Sea in Romania, as well as the 1st Squadron, 131st Cavalry in Alabama. His overseas assignments include Bosnia, Iraq, and Romania, where he worked extensively with NATO partners and developed enduring relationships with allied forces.
“We want to thank Brig. Gen. Murray for his critical leadership and dedicated support to Maryland the last couple of years. We know he’ll continue to do great things with the 29th Infantry Division in his new assignment,” said Maryland Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, adjutant general for Maryland. “Brig. Gen. Lake’s proven record of leadership and deep experience across multiple commands made him an outstanding choice to succeed Brig. Gen. Murray and join the Maryland team. Together, their leadership ensures the Blue and Gray Division will remain ready to meet any challenge at home or abroad.”
Known as the “Blue and Gray Division,” the 29th Infantry Division is an operational-level headquarters of the Army National Guard located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Established during World War I, the division is most recognized for its participation in the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach in World War II.
Today, the 29th Infantry Division stands as one of the Army National Guard’s eight infantry divisions, with units spread across six states from Maryland to Florida. As part of the National Guard’s emerging division-aligned force, the 29th Infantry Division maintains training and readiness oversight of the following units:
– Alabama National Guard’s 226th Movement Enhancement Brigade
– Florida National Guard’s 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
– Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
– Maryland National Guard’s 29th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade
– North Carolina National Guard’s 113th Sustainment Brigade
– Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
– Virginia National Guard’s 29th Division Artillery Brigade
