Maj. Gen. Edward H. Merrigan, Jr., entered the Army in 1994. He was commissioned into the Florida Army National Guard. He completed Officer Basic at Fort Lee, Va., and Charlottesville. He was initially assigned to the 50th Area Support Group in Homestead, Fla. He was then assigned to the 83rd Troop Command, Jacksonville, Fla. His next assignment was to the 32nd Air and Missile Defense Command in Orlando, Fla.
Merrigan began his Army Reserve career as the International Law Officer of the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (FID/UW), Perrine, Fla., in 1999. He continued to serve in the 478th as the Commander of Alpha Company and was ultimately selected to serve as the Battalion Executive Officer. In this capacity he deployed to Iraq to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Upon promotion to Lieutenant Colonel he was assigned as a staff officer at the 350th Civil Affairs Command. He was selected for Battalion Command and commanded the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) for over three years. He then served as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 Training Officer at the 350th Civil Affairs Command. Merrigan was a Security Assistance Officer and Civil Affairs planner at U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Fla. Following his assignment in Miami, Merrigan took command of the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade in Homewood, Ill. After brigade command, Merrigan was selected as the Chief of Staff for the 108th Training Command, Charlotte, N.C. Upon promotion to Brigadier General, he was selected as the Division Commander of the Great Lakes Training Division, 84th Training Command, and then Deputy Commanding General of the 84th Training Command. Merrigan currently serves as the Commanding General, 84th Training Command, Fort Knox, Ky.
His military education includes Officers Basic Course, two Officer Advanced Courses, Civil Affairs Officer Advance Course, Combined Armed Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, AJPME, the U.S. Army War College and the Airborne Course. His civilian education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lenoir-Rhyne College, a Juris Doctorate from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law and a Master’s degree in tax law from Emory University. He has also received a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
His decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass and M device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with numeral 2, Combat Action Badge, Parachute Badge and German Army Parachute Badge.
Merrigan is a Circuit Court Judge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and resides there with wife and daughters.