Brigadier General (Retired) Donald Emerson served 35 years in the Montana

Army National Guard.  Highlights from his career include serving as Platoon

Leader - Alpha Co (-) 495th SPT BN, Missoula, MT; Company Commander - Delta

Co 2-163rd Armor BN, Shelby, MT; S3 Operations Officer - 495th TRANS BN,

Kalispell, MT; Battalion Commander – 190th Combat Sustainment Support BN,

Billings, MT; Brigade Commander – 1889th Regional Support Group, Butte, MT;

G3 Operations and Plans Officer, Montana Army National Guard, Fort Harrison,

MT; and Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Montana Army National Guard,

Fort Harrison, MT. 

Brigadier General Emerson is a proud graduate of US Army Transportation

Officer Basic Course, Fort Eustis, VA; US Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course,

Fort Benning, GA; M1 Abrams Tank Commander Certification Course, Fort Knox, KY; Combined Arms and Services Staff School; Command and General Staff Officer Course: and US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA.  He received his commission through the University of Montana ROTC program.  He has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts / sociology with a master’s degree in strategic studies.

Brigadier General Emerson has attended training rotations at both the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, CA and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, LA.  He served 14 months in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom from Feb 2003-to-May 2004.  

Brigadier General Emerson is married to Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) Andy Emerson.  They reside in Helena, MT and spend as much free time as possible at their cabin on Stemple Pass, MT.   They have three adult children – Cody Emerson, Michael Miller, and Jamie Gilreath, all of them live in Helena, MT.  They have six beautiful grandchildren that compete in numerous sports.  Brigadier General Emerson coaches First / Second Grade Flag Football and Little Guy Wrestling in his spare time.  When not coaching or working on his cabin, Brigadier Emerson spends his time making wood projects in his shop.