Niskayuna resident Nestor Berge promoted to Lt. Colonel in the New York Army National Guard
Berge, an Afghan War veteran and former enlisted Soldier, serves as Judge Advocate General for New York National Guard
Latham, NY (12/20/2019) — Niskayuna resident Nestor Berge, a veteran of the War in Afghanistan, was promoted to Lt. Colonel in the New York Army National Guard during a ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Berge, an Army lawyer, serves as the top lawyer for the New York National Guard.
"Lt. Col. Berge is the kind of office who doesn't tell you what you want to hear, he tells you what you have to hear," said Col. Steve Rowe, the Chief-of-Staff of the New York Army National Guard.
Berge joined the New York Army National Guard in 2003 after serving as an enlisted Soldier and non-commissioned officer in the Active Army for 14 years before joining the Army National Guard.
After graduating Law School from Syracuse University College of Law, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General Corps in 2008. He was assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade, first as the Trial Counsel and later as the Brigade Judge Advocate. Since 2015 he has been assigned to Joint Forces Headquarters where he served as Attorney Advisor and now the Staff Judge Advocate.
After his enlisted Army service he attended Kansas State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, minored in German, and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key Honor Societies.
While serving in the Active Army Berge deployed to Honduras, Panama, Haiti, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Thailand and Jordan. He served in Afghanistan in 2012.
Berge is a graduate of the Army's Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Drill Sergeant School, Joint Firepower Control and Naval Gunfire Training, Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion training, and the Army Ranger School.
He is also a graduate of the Army's Command and General Staff Officer School.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Afghan Campaign Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Jordanian Master Parachutist Badge, Thai Master Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.
Berge's wife Samantha Berge is a veterinarian.
Media Attachments
Samantha Berge pins Lt. Colonel rank on her husband Nestor Berge during his promotion ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y. on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. Berge, an Altamont resident, serves as the Staff Judge Advocate for the New York National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Ryan Campbell )
New York National Guard
Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581Share this Story
Recent News
- Five NY Air Guard members named Airmen of the Year for 2026.
- New York Air Guard's 109th Airlift Wing gets a new senior enlisted leader
- Division of Military and Naval Affairs honors two Department of Correctional and Community Services leaders with military medals
- NY Air Guard's 105th Airlift Wing names five Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025
- Painting of Benedict Arnold as hero of Battle of Saratoga will be conserved for display in NY Military Museum by 2027.
- NY Air Guard's 174th Attack Wing Seeks Input for Hancock Field Air National Guard Base Community Involvement Plan
- NY Army National Guard Col. Jason Lefton, a Niskayuna resident, takes command of 5,100 Soldiers of the 53rd Troop Command
- New York Air National Guard gets new commander during January 9 ceremony at New York Air National Guard headquarters
- Col. Jason Lefton, an Iraq War veteran, assumes command of NY Army Guard's 53rd Troop Command on Sunday, Jan. 11
- New York Air National Guard gets a new commander during January 9 ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters