Steven Turner to Serve as Tennessee’s Deputy Adjutant General

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, has announced that Brig. Gen. Steven Turner will serve as the Tennessee Military Department’s next Deputy Adjutant General and Deputy Commissioner effective September 1. Turner will replace Maj. Gen. Michael Trent Scates, who is retiring after more than 36 years of distinguished service with the Tennessee National Guard. Scates’ retirement ceremony will be held on September 13.

Turner currently serves as the Assistant Adjutant General - Army, where he commands and ensures the readiness of the Army forces assigned in Tennessee and is the primary advisor on all Army matters to the Adjutant General. He began his career in 1989 as an enlisted Soldier in the U.S. Army followed by joining the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment where he rose through the ranks to become the Regiment’s 15th Commander. In addition to his leadership within the 278th, Turner also served as the state’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion Commander and the Army Chief of Staff. His combat and operational service includes two deployments to Iraq, as well as bilateral training missions in numerous countries.

Turner earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tennessee in 1997, a Master of Business Administration from Northcentral University in 2007, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2020.

Scates enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1990 and was commissioned as an Engineer Officer in 1993. Throughout his career, he served in numerous key leadership positions, including Commander of the 230th Engineer Battalion, Commander of the 194th Engineer Brigade, Director of the Joint Staff, and Assistant Adjutant General – Army. He also deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom/Spartan Shield, serving in Iraq and Kuwait.

Upon confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Turner will be promoted to the rank of Major General.