California State Military Department
The California State Military Museum
Preserving California's Military Heritage
DONALD E. MATTSON
Brigadier General CA, (Ret.)
Director, The California State Military Museum

 

General Mattson's military service began at age 16 in the Illinois State Guard at the end of World War II. In 1948 he became a member of the US Marine Corps Reserve. In 1950 he enlisted into the Illinois National Guard, advancing to the rank of Staff Sergeant before being commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry Shortly thereafter he entered active duty. During his career he served in Korea, Vietnam and Europe and completed 16 Armed Forces schools He had over 10 years command time in company and battalion level organizations. His assignment included:
 
 
General Mattson retired from the Regular Army after 26 years of service and was placed on the retired list as a Colonel, National Guard. Soon after his retirement, he served as a Project Director of the Fort Snelling Restoration Program in Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota.
 
In 1977, General Mattson joined the newly activated California State Military Reserve (CSMR). During the developmental period of the CSMR, he served as Chief of Staff and subsequently as its Commander. On 1 December 1981 he was promoted to the Brigadier General in the CSMR. He was later designated by the Adjutant General of the California National Guard to establish an innovated program within the State Defense Force structure which would support the California National Guard Historical Program. The was accomplished by the activation of the Center for Military History (CMH) which replaced the Historical Reserve formed in 1976. General Mattson was assigned as its first Commander. The CMH has the mission to support the California National Guard's Historical, Command Information, Recruiting and Community Relations programs. The CMH's major project is support and augment the services of the California Military Museum.
 
Today, he concurrently serves as the Director of the California State Military Museum and as President of the California State Military Museum Foundation. He is a graduate of the US Army Museum System Curator Course.
 
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