NY Army Guard Brig. Gen. Christopher Cronin, a Victor resident, retires after 35 years of service
WEST POINT, New York (06/17/2026) — New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Christopher Cronin, a Victor resident, retired after 35 years of military service on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Cronin, who commissioned in the Army as an Infantry officer upon graduating from Syracuse University in October of 1993, was honored during his retirement ceremony held at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Cronin most recently served as Deputy Commanding General of Maneuver in the 42nd Infantry Division, a position he held since earning the assignment in 2024 after briefly serving as the division's Deputy Commanding General of Support in the fall of 2023.
His career includes assignments across a wide echelon of responsibilities starting in 1994 as an Anti-Armor platoon leader in the 2-108th Infantry Battalion.
In 2006, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom serving as an operations officer and then a Kanak Team Chief with the 1-203rd Brigade Embedded Training Team. In 2008, Cronin joined the 42nd Infantry Division and assumed responsibilities as Analysis Officer, Tactical Command Post Operations Officer, and Chief of Operations.
Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, and the presiding officer at Cronin's retirement ceremony, praised him for a remarkable career and rising to the rank of brigadier general.
"I like to use numbers to help demonstrate just how significant Chris' accomplishment is. The New York Army National Guard is a force of 12,017 Soldiers, of that 12,017 Soldiers, 519 are lieutenants, 448 are captains, 247 are majors, 118 are lieutenant colonels, 33 are colonels, but only three are brigadier generals", Shields said.
Being promoted to brigadier general and retiring at that grade with [35] years of service is a huge accomplishment and speaks volumes about Chris' performance and abilities, he added.
"The success that the 42nd Infantry Division has had in CENTCOM and Operation Epic Fury is in no small part due to Chris' efforts to train the division staff," he said.
Shields thanked Cronin for all his years of service, to include all his years as a commander leading Soldiers, all his advice and counsel over the years, and all he did for the Unites States Army and the New York Army National Guard.
In his remarks, Cronin thanked numerous people including service members, family, and friends who he said had a page, multiple pages, or even an entire chapter of his military career. He added, "you helped me, provided guidance, assisted my family, deployed somewhere with me, or shared a few laughs with me along the way."
Cronin spoke on his Army career and how it never went the way he wanted it, but it was thoroughly challenging, demanding, and always rewarding. He said he served and represented the Army in 15 different countries, fought overseas, and experienced firsthand the sacrifice our service members make for our nation's freedom on the battlefield.
He said he is extremely proud to have been in the Army National Guard during its historic transition from a strategic reserve to an operational reserve.
He thanked his parents and his extended family for the unwavering support they gave him throughout his career.
He concluded by sharing how extremely proud he is of his three children and meeting his wife 7 years into his Army career.
"They are my favorite and best fire team in the entire Army," he said of his children. They are my workout partners, jokesters, pranksters, and patriots. They have grown to be remarkable young adults, and I thank them for all their sacrifices and most importantly their accomplishments, [despite] time without dad," he added.
"Even though she never spoke with a recruiter, she joined the Army and served selflessly with me for 28 years, there is no greater battle buddy than she", he said of his wife.
As Deputy Commanding General of Maneuver in the 42nd Infantry Division Cronin was responsible for operations and planning, training and readiness, mission command, and combined arms integration to ensure maneuver forces were synchronized and prepared for rapid deployment.
During the ceremony he was presented with the Legion of Merit Medal for his exceptional military service over a 35-year career culminating as the Deputy Commanding General of the 42nd Infantry Division.
On behalf of the New York State Governor, Kathy Hochul, both he and his wife, Courtney, were awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal for exceptional meritorious service to New York State.
Finally, Courtney Cronin was presented the Shield of Sparta to recognize her outstanding dedication, personal sacrifice, selfless ideals, courage, and support of her husband as an Infantrymen in the Army.
Prior to his position as deputy commanding general, Cronin served as a commander at the company, battalion, and brigade levels starting with D Company, 2-108th, subsequently, as Battalion Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, and finally as Brigade Commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. In addition, he served as the Rear Detachment Commander from 2019 to 2021 supporting deployed Soldiers and families during Operation Spartan Shield 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the 27th IBCT Commander, he deployed units to Australia, Ukraine, Korea, France, Belgium, and the Dominican Republic in support of training and strategic missions.
In 2021, Cronin became the Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff, New York National Guard where he trained with the South African and Brazilian Armies to enhance New York's State Partnership Program and facilitate joint military training, operational exchanges, and disaster response planning to build mutual defense capabilities.
Cronin's military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Captain's Career Course, Infantry Advanced Officer Course, Combined Arms and Services School, Army Airborne School, Air Assault School, Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army War College, the Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, the National Security Management Course at the University of Syracuse, and the General and Flag Officer Seminar at the Harvard Kennedy School.
His awards include, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the German Army Marksmanship Badge, and the German Army Athletic Badge,
He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Syracuse University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
Cronin and his wife, Courtney, have three children. His son Connor is a Reserve Officers' Training Corps Simultaneous Membership Program Cadet and will be commissioned into the 642 Aviation Support Battalion in May of 2027.
Media Attachments
Army Brigadier General Christopher Cronin, the deputy commanding general of maneuver, 42nd Infantry Division, New York National Guard is awarded the Legion of Merit Medal by Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, during his retirement ceremony on June 14, 2026, at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Cronin concluded 35 years of military service to this nation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Stuart Martin)
New York National Guard
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