Maj. Gen. H Steven Blum is the commanding
general of the 29th Infantry Division (Light),
Virginia Army National Guard, headquartered
at Fort Belvoir.

As the division commander, he is responsible for the operations, training and readiness of the one of the Army's most historic combat formations.

Maj. Gen. Blum also has been named as the commanding general of the Multi-National Division North, Task Force Eagle, in Bosnia for the 10th rotation of NATO's peace stabilization force (SFOR 10), beginning on or about Oct. 1, 2001. As commander of Task Force Eagle, he will command units from the Army National Guard, Army Reserve and active Army, as well as forces from more than 11 other nations.

Maj. Gen. Blum assumed command of the 29th Infantry Division (Light) Aug. 14, 1999. As its commander, and in cooperation with five adjutants general, he exercises command and control of divisional elements and 11,000 citizen-soldiers spread out over a five-state area (Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey).

A native of Baltimore, Md., Maj. Gen. Blum was born Oct. 13, 1946. He is a 1963 graduate of Forest Park High School and a 1968 graduate of the University of Baltimore. Maj. Gen. Blum was commissioned as a second lieutenant of infantry on Aug. 28, 1971, when he graduated with honors from the Maryland Army National Guard Officers' Candidate School. With more than 18 years command time, he has commanded at every level, to include command of a Special Forces operational detachment, 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 29th Infantry Division (Light), and the 29th Division Support Command (DISCOM).

Maj. Gen. Blum, who served in the Maryland Army National Guard for nearly 30 years, transferred to the Virginia Army National Guard to assume command of the 29th Infantry Division (Light), Aug. 1, 1999, As a brigadier general, he served as the Assistant Adjutant General ­ Army for Maryland and as the Assistant Division Commander ­ Support for the 29th.

He and his wife Susan reside in Reisterstown, Md. They have two children, Marc and Debbie, and two granddaughters.