Ronald Markarian

[1] Ronald Markarian was active in community affairs and has served in a variety of leadership roles in military, veteran and public service organizations.

He flew 116 combat reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War receiving numerous awards, including two Legion of Merits and the Bronze Star.

Major General Markarian has also graduated from several military schools and holds a master's degree in public administration from George Washington University.

Ronald states that his great-grandparents were among the pioneers of the fig industry in California; his father Theodore and mother Rose, were both born in Fresno.

[4] Commissioned in the Air Force, he left Fresno for extended active duty; to continue his formal education later at George Washington University and receive his master's degree in Public Administration in 1964.

While still a high school senior, Markarian enlisted in the California National Guard in 1949 and served in the heavy mortar company, 185th Infantry Regiment for three years.

[4] He left the 303d in 1960 to join the B-52 heavy bombardment program at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington, he spent four years as a B-52 combat crew member.

This job allowed him to visit U.S. and Allied military activities in Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

[5] Ronald Markarian's awards include:[4] This article incorporates public domain material from Congressional Record, November 9, 2007 (PDF).