Umatilla County Circuit Court Judge Daniel J. Hill is now a brigadier general in the Oregon Army National Guard.

Hill was promoted during a ceremony on Sunday, June 4, at the 41st Infantry Division Armed Forces Reserve Center Camp Withycombe in Clackamas.

With Hill’s promotion comes new responsibilities. He was previously serving as the National Guard’s State Judge Advocate but will now serve as the assistant to the chief counsel of the U.S. Army National Guard. According to an Oregon Military Department news release, Hill will advise the Judge Advocate General concerning the technical supervision and rating of National Guard military judges (at state request), legal personnel training, readiness and related military law matters as well as performing other duties as requested by the chief council.

The position will be part-time and can mostly be done remotely, allowing Hill to continue in his civilian position as a circuit judge in Umatilla County and Morrow County.

Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General for Oregon, called Hill a “true Citizen-Soldier” in a statement announcing the promotion.

“A true Citizen-Soldier, Col. Hill’s selection is a testament not only to his performance in the Oregon National Guard, but also to his proven abilities and years of service as a circuit court judge in Umatilla County,” Stencel said.

Hill was born in Pendleton and raised in Hermiston. He received his Juris Doctorate from Willamette University College of Law, his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Oregon State University and his Associate of Arts degree from Blue Mountain Community College.

He was the legislative aide to State Representative and retired U.S. Army Colonel Charles “Chuck” Norris before being commissioned directly into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC) in September 1987. After his active duty tour Hill returned to Hermiston to practice law and later serve as municipal judge and city prosecutor for the city of Hermiston.

He mobilized twice with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team and was the Task Force Staff Judge Advocate during domestic support operations following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. He then deployed as the SJA for Joint Combined Task Force Phoenix V in Kabul, Afghanistan. He has held a variety of military positions, including as trial counsel at the USA Air Defense Center and Fort Bliss, where he tried cases before General and Special Courts-Martial and the U.S. Magistrates Court as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.

His numerous military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters and the Army Commendation Medal. His military education includes the U.S. Army War College (Masters in Strategic Studies 2014), the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Judge Advocate Advanced Course, the Judge Advocate Officers Basic Course and other specialized courses.