NY Army Guard officer promoted at site of historic French and Indian War battle

Lake George Village, New York -New York Army Guard Major Alex Hammond received his new rank on Tuesday, August 25, at the site of a French and Indian War battle immortalized in "The Last of the Mohicans."

Hammond received his new rank from Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, at the site of the 1757 siege of Fort William Henry.

The fort's garrison of 2,200 British and American troops surrendered to a French, Canadian, and Indian force of over 8,000.

This was followed by the massacre of 200 garrison members by native warriors, which is a key scene in James Fenimore Cooper's classic 1826 novel and the 7 movie versions.

Hammond's promotion was hosted by the Fort William Henry Museum, a reconstruction of the 1757 fort.

Opened in 1954, the tourist attraction at the foot of Lake George features historical exhibits, living-history presentations by the staff, and even ghost tours.

Hammond's promotion featured museum staff dressed in period uniform and the firing of a replica 18th-century cannon by staffers dressed as members of the British Royal Artillery.

Col. Mark Frank, the New York Army National Guard chief of staff, served as the narrator for the ceremony, while Shields administered the oath of office.

"Alex impressed me from the very beginning; his drive and commitment continue to this day in so many ways," Shields said during the ceremony

"He is an impressive officer and leader; becoming a field-grade officer is a huge increase in authority and responsibility. He is just the type of smart, hard-charging officer that exemplifies that sentiment," he added.

In his remarks, Hammond thanked his family for their support, and Frank for serving as a mentor to him.

He also thanked his family for bringing him to Fort William Henry repeatedly when he was a boy.

While he was promoted in the fort's north bastion, passing tourists stopped to look on.

Hammond, who is currently serving as an Army Congressional Fellow, said he asked to be promoted at the fort museum because he fell in love with the place while vacationing with his family.

"Some of my fondest memories are going to the fort, learning about its military history and enlisting in the 'kid's militia' and enjoying the incredible reenactors," Hammond said.

He is now living in the Washington, D.C. area, and his family was planning to vacation at Lake George; he asked Fort William Henry Museum director Ken Mark if he could be promoted here.

Mark said it felt right to honor Hammond's request.

"Alex has a genuine personal connection to Fort William Henry," Mark said. " He and his family have returned here annually in connection with the Teamsters(union) meeting at our Conference Center, and he felt the Fort would be a meaningful place to mark this important milestone in his military career."

"His request also aligns naturally with Fort William Henry's longstanding commitment to Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, and Reservists and Guard members," Mark said.

During the French and Indian War, the Lake George area was key terrain as the French and British fought for control of North America. Rogers' Rangers, whom today's special forces claim as their ancestors, operated in the region spying on the French and their Indian allies.

The British built a fort where the tourist town of Lake George Village now stands to prevent the French from invading south toward Albany.

On August 3, 1757, 6,000 French Soldiers and Canadian militia men, along with 2,000 Indian warriors, descended on the fort's garrison of 1,000 British regulars and 1,200 "provincial" troops from Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

The French bombarded the fort, and when the walls were breached, the British surrendered formally to French General Montcalm and marched away with their muskets.

But the Indians, who had been promised prisoners and plunder in return for their service, killed the wounded left behind and then fell upon the column. Up to 200 soldiers and camp followers -women and children-were killed in what became known as the Fort William Henry massacre.

Hammond, a native of Waddington, New York-- where he served as town supervisor from 2017 to 2023 while still in college--earned his commission in the Adjutant General's Corps through Army ROTC at Valley Forge Military College in 2016.

He has held a variety of assignments, including strength manager for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and personnel officer for the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment.

As part of the New York National Guard response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hammond commanded the vaccination site at the State University of New York, Potsdam from 2020 to 2022.

Hammond also deployed to Grafenwohr, Germany, in 2022-2023 as part of a New York Army National Guard team that trained the Ukrainian Army, where he served as the protocol officer.

As a full-time Guardsman, Hammond has been state casualty affairs coordinator, secretary to the general staff for the adjutant general, marketing coordinator for the New York Army Guard Recruiting Battalion, and federal legislative affairs officer for the New York National Guard.

In 2025, Hammond was selected to participate in the Army Congressional Fellowship Program. Hammond is currently a graduate student at George Washington University pursuing a Master's in Legislative Affairs. He will be assigned to a congressional office starting in January of 2027.

Hammond's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Recruiting Ribbon, and the Army Overseas Service Ribbon.

He holds an Associate of Liberal Arts from Valley Forge Military College; a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University; and a master's in public administration from the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University.