AUGUSTA– The Adjutant General for Maine, Maj. Gen. Douglas A. Farnham, recognized Brig. Gen. Hugh T. Corbett in a retirement ceremony attended by family, friends and National Guard members, and also announced Corbett’s successor as assistant adjudtent general — Brig. Gen. Donald O. Legace.
Corbett had been assigned as assistant adjutant general-army since September of 2015. The assistant adjutant general-army is responsible for all training, manning and equipping of the force in order to ensure operational requirements and readiness goals are properly met.
Lagace was promoted from colonel to brigadier general in a ceremony on March 1, and conducted his official transfer of authority ceremony with Corbett on March 2, both in front of an audience of family, friends and National Guard members.
Corbett began his military career with the United States Marine Corps in 1986 after completing Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va. He later joined the Maine Army National Guard in 1993, where he spent the majority of his service as a staff judge advocate and also deployed to Afghanistan with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 240th Engineer Group in 2006.
Corbett previously served for three years as deputy commissioner for the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management and practiced law in Waterville from 1991 to 2002. He thanked his wife, family and friends for all their support during his career and command tour, including his son, who is serving overseas. He spoke fondly of many soldiers he has served with, and noted how the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage guided him throughout his legal and military careers.
Corbett holds a law degree from the Vermont School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University. He also received a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal.
COMMUNITY ROOTS
Legace, for the past 10 years, has served as the U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer for Maine, a federal position reporting directly to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, ensuring the proper obligation and expenditure of federal money and safeguarding all federal property held by the Maine National Guard.
A logistics officer and a Persian Gulf War veteran, Lagace began his military career as an enlisted soldier in 1982, and was commissioned through the ROTC program at the University of Southern Maine in 1984. He has commanded at the company, battalion and brigade levels during his 37 year Army career.
During his promotion ceremony remarks, Lagace thanked his family, friends and fellow soldiers for the support and mentorship provided to him during his career. He emphasized the importance of family, and how the close ties he has formed through many years of training and deploying has made his military experience a fulfilling one.
Lagace highlighted serving with his father, a former chief warrant officer in the “Mighty 152,” or 152nd Maintenance Company, which Lagace later commanded as a captain. He also thanked the chaplain corps for their diligent work in attending to service members’ spiritual needs, and emphasized the National Guard’s community roots as one of its unique strengths.
Lagace holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Maine, as well as a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal.
TOP PHOTO: Brig. Gen. Donald Lagace, left, accepts the Army flag from Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham during the transfer ceremony March 2, signifiying the passing of authority. (Capt. Carl Lamb, Army National Guard photo)
