Major General
Robert G. Carruthers III
Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander,
Florida Army National Guard
Major General Robert Carruthers is the Assistant Adjutant General-Army and the Commander of the Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG). He commands over 10,000 Soldiers and exercises management authority over all FLARNG programs.
Prior to this appointment, General Carruthers served as the Deputy Commander of the Florida Army National Guard, and prior to that as the FLNG Director of the Joint Staff and Commander of Joint Task Force Florida. He exercised command of JTF-Florida's 3,000-troop response to COVID-19.
General Carruthers earned his commission in 1990 through the Tulane University Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program as an Armor Officer. While on active duty, he served at Fort Stewart, Georgia with the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment as Tank Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, and Tank Company Executive Officer; at The Citadel as Assistant Professor of Military Science; and at Fort Hood, Texas as a Tank Company Commander with 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Battalion, 395th Armor Regiment as Senior Observer Controller/Trainer.
In 2001, he transitioned from active duty to the Texas National Guard serving with 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment as Assistant Operations Officer. In 2004, he transitioned to the South Carolina National Guard serving with 1st Battalion, 263rd Armor Regiment as Assistant Operations Officer; 218th Heavy Brigade Combat Team as Brigade Plans Officer and Joint Operations Officer; 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as Operations Officer (S3) and Battalion Commander for the 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Combined Arms Battalion. He served as the Brigade Commander the 59th Troop Command followed by the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; and Deputy Commander, South Carolina Army National Guard Training Site Command and Joint Force Headquarters Intelligence Officer (G2). He has served on three operational deployments that include Bosnia as a Company Commander, Kosovo as a Battalion Commander supporting Multi-National Battle Group – East and Afghanistan, and as a Joint Operations Officer (J3) supporting Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix. His extensive leadership with Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations in the South Carolina National Guard was key to his selection for the DJS position in Florida.
General Carruthers’ civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Orleans, a Master of Science Degree in History from The Citadel, a Master of Business Administration Degree from Southern Methodist University and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies Degree from the U.S. Army War College. His military education includes U.S. Army War College, Joint Task Force Commander’s Course, Dual Status Commander’s Course and Joint Combined Warfighting School. His decorations include the Legion of Merit (2nd Award), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (6th Award) and Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award). His military qualifications include the Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge. He is Joint and Dual Status Command Qualified.