CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Marietta, Ga., Nov. 30, 2010 - Colonel Owen Ulmer, former Director of Youth Programs, retired in September capping a 36-year career with the Georgia National Guard.  At a farewell luncheon given in his honor by the Adjutant General, Ulmer noted that his career in the Guard had offered him the chance to work in many different places and provided him many wonderful opportunities.

Ulmer, who began his military career in 1974 as a staff sergeant in the Georgia Air National Guard, later earned his commission as a captain and took command of the Brunswick-based 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron, a position that he held for four years. After numerous additional assignments at State Headquarters, Ulmer retired from the Air Guard at the rank of Colonel.

Early in his career, Ulmer worked for the University of Georgia, finally retiring in 1992 as its operations director for the UGA aquarium in Brunswick. He later became an instructor with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Brunswick.

Major Gen. William T. Bland, Georgia’s former adjutant general, encouraged Ulmer to come to Atlanta to begin his fulltime career with the Georgia National Guard. For three years he commanded the Georgia National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.  He was later appointed as Director of Joint Operations, one of four senior directorships in the Georgia Department of Defense.

Appointed Director of Youth Programs in 2007, Ulmer had responsibility over the operations of the two Youth Challenge campuses and the two STARBASE programs at Dobbins and Warner Robins.

Ulmer is a graduate of the University of Georgia and received his Masters Degree from Georgia Southern University.  He holds the prestigious Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and the Southwest Asia medal among many others.  He retires with his wife, Jackie, to their farm in North Georgia.