After 35 years of service, Selma’s Frank Speed has earned the rank of Brigadier General in the Army Reserve National Guard.

“Actually

when I started out I was going to put in my six year commitment and get out and I stayed,” Speed said. “No, I never thought for a moment when I got in that it would turn out this way.”

Presently a deputy commander with the 167th Theater Support Command, Speed is a surplus commodity administrator for child nutrition programs with the Department of Education when he is not serving.

Speed graduated from Auburn with a BS in Business in 1974 and from the U.S. Army War College in 2001.

In the early 1980’s his sister, now Colonel Sheryl Speed Gordon, followed in his footsteps and joined.

“I pretty much stayed out of the way I wanted her to make it on her own and she has done so,” Speed said.

Until his recent promotion, Speed and his sister shared the rank of Colonel.

“I

was worried about that for awhile,” Speed said, jokingly. “She was progressing rapidly.

We are close, both professionally and personally.”

Speed has been decorated many times in his 35 year career, he has received:

Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Army Commendation Medal

Army Achievement Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

National Defense Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass

Army Service Ribbon

Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 6

Master Recruiter Badge.

Speed said he doesn’t expect another move up the ladder, but has learned never to count anything out.

“There are only three two-star generals in the state of Alabama, I just don’t see it in the cards right now. But I learned a long time ago to never say never,”

he said. “After you make Lt. Colonel in the guard whatever happens after that is a matter of luck and timing. I’ve been extremely fortunate.”