Prior to being appointed as Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services on Jan. 14, 2019, Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst (U.S. Army, retired) served as the Senior Vice President, Military Strategy of R2 Associates.
Ashenhurst retired from the U.S. Army and the National Guard in October 2015 after more than 37 years of service. In that time, she served at all levels of command.
In 2011, she was appointed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich to the cabinet-level position of Adjutant General of the State of Ohio, commanding the 17,000 service members of the Ohio National Guard, the Ohio Naval Militia and the Ohio Military Reserve. She served as Adjutant General until January of 2015. Her career culminated by serving as a Special Assistant to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C.
Ashenhurst received numerous awards and decorations, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with one Silver and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
Gen. Ashenhurst resides with her husband, Col. Jim Ashenhurst (U.S. Army, retired), in the town of Hilliard, Ohio.