Biography

Major General Andrew J. Chevalier is a former Cramer’s Saber Battalion Cadet who went on to commission early as a second lieutenant and made the battalion and university proud. He has multiple combat tours and has served at every leadership level to include his current role as the Adjutant General and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard. He is a founding member of our association and there is no shortage of examples where he has given his time to mentor and lead cadets while simultaneously keeping up with his career and taking on leadership positions of increasing responsibility.

Major General Andrew J. Chevalier joined the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, Rhode Island Army National Guard, on 21 September 1989 as part of the Simultaneous Membership Program. He received his commission as a second lieutenant on 9 July 1990 from the University of Rhode Island Army ROTC Program and later graduated on 26 May 1991. He attended the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky and then Initial Entry Rotary Wing Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Major General Andrew J. Chevalier serves as Adjutant General and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard, where he is responsible for the welfare of 3,100 Soldiers and Airmen, and all matters pertaining to policy, operations, mobilization, state interagency contingency planning, and support to civil authorities.
His first assignment was in Troop E, 5th Squadron, 117th Cavalry as an AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter Platoon Leader. He would later become the commander of Troop D, 5th Squadron, 117th Cavalry. In 2004, Brigadier General Chevalier deployed to Balad, Iraq as the Battalion Operations Officer for the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment responsible for UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook Helicopter flight operations. In 2012, he deployed to Kuwait as the Battalion Commander for the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment commanding an aviation task responsible for both fixed and rotary wing support throughout the CENTCOM Area of Operations. Major General Chevalier went on to serve as the Director of Personnel, the Director of Operations and Training, the Chief of Staff for the Rhode Island Army National Guard, the Director of Joint Staff, and the Land Component Commander. He played a pivotal role in the State’s response to COVID-19 Pandemic coordinating efforts to include mass testing and vaccination, contact tracing, and alternate hospital site construction and operations.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Rhode Island, Major General Chevalier has a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College. He completed the Leadership in Homeland Security Executive Education Program at Harvard University, as well as the National Security Executive Education Program at Syracuse University. He is also a qualified Joint Task Force and Dual Status Commander by United States Northern Command. Major General Chevalier resides in North Kingstown, Rhode Island with his wife Carol and daughter Melanie.
Major General Chevalier continued to support the University of Rhode Island Army ROTC Program long after commissioning. In the late 1990s, he, along with a small cohort, established the URI Army ROTC Alumni Chapter and is considered one of its founding fathers of the organization. He continues to support the program in various ways to include mentoring cadets and junior officers after commissioning. Brigadier General Chevalier returned to the University to be the keynote speaker at the 2021 URI ROTC Commissioning Ceremony.

Major General Chevalier contributes to society and his military profession. He was a longtime volunteer as a coach for the Ocean State Soccer League. He frequently returns to his Alma Mater of Bishop Hendricken High School to speak and mentor students on leadership, ethics and career opportunities. He was the 2022 keynote speaker at the Bishop Hendricken High School Graduation Commencement. Major General Chevalier is a dedicated supporter and volunteer for his professional associations. He served as a past executive board member on the National Guard Association of Rhode Island and past secretary and president of the Narragansett Bay Chapter of the Army Aviation Association of America.

Major General Andrew J. Chevalier’s distinguished military career, his continued significant support to the Cramer’s Saber Battalion, his work to establish our association, and his overall support to professional associations make him uniquely qualified to be inducted into our Hall of Fame. His induction into the hall of fame will codify a legacy of selfless service that current cadets and students from URI, RWU and SRU will recognize as a life to emulate. Cadets and students will view him in the hall and see how through commitment and hard work their own aspirations for success and service can become real.