Bert W. Holmes, Jr.

2004 Honoree

"General Holmes represents excellence in the spirit and tradition of the citizen-soldiers who have long served Commonwealth and country.

"He has had a distinguished career in the National Guard.

His promotion to general and appointment to a senior leadership position in the Department of Military Affairs assures that he will continue to serve the best interests of the citizens of the Commonwealth and the men and women of the National Guard."

These were the words spoken in February 2001 by then Virginia Governor James Gilmore, when he appointed Bert W. Holmes, Jr. as the first African-American brigadier general in the history of the Virginia National Guard.

Along with his promotion, Governor Gilmore appointed Holmes the assistant adjutant general in the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, which commands the state's Army and Air National Guard.

Holmes oversees equal opportunity, the Guard's tuition assistance program and state and federal legislative issues.

Before this appointment, Holmes was the first African-American state surgeon in the Virginia National Guard, a position he held for five years. He also was senior flight surgeon for the Virginia National Guard. In addition to his military career, Holmes simultaneously maintained a private medical practice as a urological surgeon in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.

Holmes' military career began when he was commissioned a second lieutenant infantry through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program at Virginia State University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. After serving on active duty with the Fourth Infantry Division, he returned to the Hampton Roads area, where he taught high school for two years.

In 1970, he entered the Howard University School of Medicine, receiving his medical degree in 1974. Continuing at Howard University, he completed his specialty training in urology in 1980.

During his career, Holmes has received a variety of commendations and awards, including the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Army National Guard Legion of Merit.

"Everyone is allotted the same amount of time in a day," Holmes says to America's youth. "How wisely this time is used will most often determine the level of success one will achieve in life."