Each state in the United States has a senior military officer, as the state adjutant general, who is the de facto commander of a state's military forces, including the National Guard residing within the state, the state's naval militia, and any state defense forces. This officer is known as TAG (The Adjutant General), and is subordinated to the chief executive (generally the state's governor). They do not have authority over police forces, only military forces.
Source of appointment
In 49 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands, the adjutant general is appointed by the governor. The exceptions are Vermont, where the adjutant general is appointed by a vote of the Vermont General Assembly, and the District of Columbia, where a commanding general is appointed by the President of the United States of America.[1] Until 2016, South Carolina chose its adjutant general in statewide general elections, but after passage of a popular referendum, the holder of this position is now appointed by the governor.[2]
Responsibilities
Each adjutant general shares a common responsibility for the state's National Guard plus a unique set of other responsibilities defined by the state's constitution, state statutes, and other state-level directives. In addition to their state responsibilities, each TAG is responsible to the federal government for the use and care of federal assets under the state's control. The National Guard Bureau (NGB) in the Department of Defense provides a centralized administrative, funding, and procurement process to support the states' military departments. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau also provides input as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on national military activities as they relate to the National Guard.
The 54 adjutants general collectively form the Adjutants General Association of the United States (AGAUS) which strives to enhance both state and national military security.[3] A professional military guard organization, the National Guard Association of the United States serves to lobby both Congress and the Executive branch about common needs of the Guard as a whole and also provide support to members of the National Guard.[4]
National Guard
Each adjutant general commands their state's Army and Air National Guard units which are not on federal active duty. When a National Guard unit is federalized it is moved from state command to the Department of Defense and placed under an Army or Air Force command.
State defense forces
Twenty-three adjutants general have responsibility for military land forces that comprise state level militias under the command of the various governors and generally have state support missions. Eight of which maintain a naval militia division. Two adjutants general, Puerto Rico and Texas, are also responsible for an air support component.
Emergency management agencies
Some adjutant generals are responsible for oversight of the state's emergency management organization. These groups are non-military organizations but have a close working relationship with the state's National Guard and any state defense forces. They are the state level agency that works directly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters.
Homeland security
Some states have assigned their adjutant general the responsibility for overseeing homeland security. In other states, this responsibility may be assigned to the state's law enforcement agency instead.
Veteran’s affairs
Some states place their veteran's affairs organization in the state's military department under the oversight of the state adjutant general. Other states have an independent veteran's affairs department.
List of adjutants general
Each adjutant general is the senior officer in the state's military structure. Many hold federal rank as active duty general officers, but others may for a variety of reasons, including mandatory federal military retirement age, only hold general officer rank from their state.
Title[5] | Adjutant General[5] | State, district, or insular area |
Rank[5] | Svc | Assumed office |
Appointed by |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Adjutant General of Alabama | David K. Prichett | Alabama | Major General[6] | ARNG | 2024[6] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Alaska | Torrence Saxe | Alaska | Lieutenant General (AK)[7][8] | ANG | 2019[9] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Arizona | Kerry L. Muehlenbeck | Arizona | Major General[10] | ANG | 2021[11] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Arkansas | Kendall W. Penn | Arkansas | Major General[12] | ARNG | 2019[13] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of California | Matthew P. Beevers | California | Major General[14] | ARNG | 2023[14] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Colorado | Laura L. Clellan | Colorado | Major General[15] | ARNG | 2020[15] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Connecticut | Francis J. Evon Jr. | Connecticut | Major General[16] | ARNG | 2018[17] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Delaware | Michael R. Berry | Delaware | Major General[18] | ARNG | 2019[19] | Governor |
The Commanding General, District of Columbia National Guard |
John C. Andonie | District of Columbia | Major General[20] | ARNG | 2023[21] | President |
The Adjutant General of the District of Columbia National Guard |
Aaron R. Dean II | District of Columbia | Brigadier General[22] | ARNG | 2018[23] | President |
The Adjutant General of Florida | John D. Haas | Florida | Major General | ARNG | 2023[24] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Georgia | Thomas M. Carden Jr. | Georgia | Major General[25] | ARNG | 2019[26] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Guam | Michael Cruz[27] | Guam | Brigadier General (GU)[28] | ARNG | 2023[27] | Governor[27] |
The Adjutant General of Hawaii | Kenneth S. Hara | Hawaii | Major General[29] | ARNG | 2019[29] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Idaho | Michael J. Garshak | Idaho | Major General[30][31] | ARNG | 2017[30] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Illinois | Richard R. Neely | Illinois | Major General[8] | ANG | 2019[32] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Indiana | R. Dale Lyles | Indiana | Major General[33][34] | ARNG | 2019[35] | Governor[35] |
The Adjutant General of Iowa | Stephen E. Osborn | Iowa | Major General[36] | ARNG | 2023[37] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Kansas | Michael T. Venerdi | Kansas | Brigadier General[38] | ANG | 2023[39] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Kentucky | Haldane B. Lamberton | Kentucky | Major General (KY)[40] | ARNG | 2020[41] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Louisiana | D. Keith Waddell | Louisiana | Major General[42][43] | ARNG | 2020[42] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Maine | Douglas A. Farnham | Maine | Major General[44] | ANG | 2016[45] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Maryland | Janeen L. Birckhead | Maryland | Major General[46] | ARNG | 2023[47] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Massachusetts | Gary W. Keefe |
Massachusetts | Major General[48] | ANG | 2016[48] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Michigan | Paul D. Rogers | Michigan | Major General[49] | ARNG | 2019[49] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Minnesota | Shawn P. Manke | Minnesota | Major General[50][51] | ARNG | 2020[52] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Mississippi | Janson D. Boyles | Mississippi | Major General[53] | ARNG | 2016[54] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Missouri | Levon E. Cumpton | Missouri | Major General[55][56] | ARNG | 2019[55] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Montana | John P. Hronek | Montana | Major General[57] | ANG | 2021[57] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Nebraska | Craig W. Strong | Nebraska | Major General (NE)[58][59] | ANG | 2023[58] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Nevada | Ondra L. Berry | Nevada | Major General[60] | ANG | 2019[61] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of New Hampshire | David J. Mikolaities | New Hampshire | Major General[62] | ARNG | 2017[63] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of New Jersey | Lisa Hou | New Jersey | Brigadier General[64] | ARNG | 2020[65] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of New Mexico | Miguel Aguilar | New Mexico | Major General[66] | ARNG | 2021[67] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of New York | Raymond F. Shields Jr. | New York | Major General[68] | ARNG | 2018[68] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of North Carolina | M. Todd Hunt | North Carolina | Major General[69] | ARNG | 2019[69] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of North Dakota | Alan S. Dohrmann | North Dakota | Major General[70] | ARNG | 2015[70] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Ohio | John C. Harris Jr. | Ohio | Major General[71] | ARNG | 2019[71] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Oklahoma | Thomas H. Mancino | Oklahoma | Major General[72] | ARNG | 2021[73] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Oregon | Alan Gronewold | Oregon | Colonel[74] | ARNG | 2023[75] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Pennsylvania | Mark J. Schindler | Pennsylvania | Major General[76] | ARNG | 2020[76] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Puerto Rico | Miguel A. Mendez | Puerto Rico | Major General (PR)[77] | ARNG | 2023[77] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Rhode Island | Christopher P. Callahan | Rhode Island | Major General[78] | ARNG | 2015[79] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of South Carolina | R. Van McCarty | South Carolina | Major General[80] | ARNG | 2019[80] | Governor[81] |
The Adjutant General of South Dakota | Mark R. Morrell | South Dakota | Major General (SD)[82][83] | ARNG | 2023[82] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Tennessee | Warner A. Ross II | Tennessee | Major General[84] | ARNG | 2019[84] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Texas | Thomas M. Suelzer | Texas | Major General[85] | ANG | 2022[86] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Utah | Daniel D. Boyack | Utah | Brigadier General[87] | ANG | 2023[87] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Vermont | Gregory C. Knight | Vermont | Major General[56][88] | ARNG | 2019[89] | Legislature |
The Adjutant General of the U.S. Virgin Islands |
Kodjo S. Knox-Limbacker | U.S. Virgin Islands | Major General[90][51] | ARNG | 2019[91] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Virginia | James W. Ring | Virginia | Major General | ARNG | 2023[92] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Washington | Bret D. Daugherty | Washington | Major General[93] | ARNG | 2012[93] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of West Virginia | William E. Crane | West Virginia | Major General[94][51] | ARNG | 2021[94] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Wisconsin | Paul E. Knapp | Wisconsin | Major General[8] | ANG | 2020[95] | Governor |
The Adjutant General of Wyoming | Gregory C. Porter | Wyoming | Major General[96] | ARNG | 2019[97] | Governor |
See also
References
- ↑ "Adjutants General", The Adjutants General Association Online Resources, The National Guard Association of the United States, archived from the original on April 27, 2012, retrieved April 6, 2012
- ↑ "South Carolina Appointment of Adjutant General, Amendment 2 (2014)".
- ↑ "Adjutants General Association of the United States | (AGAUS) National Guard of the United States". Retrieved 2012-12-09.
- ↑ "Who We Are and What We Do". Retrieved 2012-12-09.
- 1 2 3 "STATE ADJUTANTS GENERAL ROSTER" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012 – via Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 "Brig. Gen. David Pritchett Assumes Command of the Alabama National Guard". BNN Breaking. 2024-01-05.
- ↑ Martínezcuello, Francisco (2023-03-29). "Bethel hosts Alaska National Guard head's promotion, new helicopter". Alaska Public Media. Bethel, Alaska. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- 1 2 3 "PN2337 — Air Force". 14 December 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
- ↑ Olmstead, Candis (January 4, 2019). "Alaska National Guard Change of Command Recognizes New Adjutant General". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Camp H. M. Smith, HI.
- ↑ Warren, Jamie (June 6, 2021). "Arizona National Guard leader Kerry Muehlenbeck promoted to major general, first woman to fill role". ABC15.com. Phoenix, AZ: KNXV-TV.
- ↑ "Major General Kerry L. Muehlenbeck". Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Hale, Tyler. "Major General Kendall W. Penn Named 53rd Adjutant General of Arkansas". armoneyandpolitics.com. Little Rock, AR: Arkansas Money and Politics.
- ↑ "Arkansas National Guard receives new commander". 11 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
- 1 2 "OTAG Cal Guard". Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- 1 2 "Executive Leadership of the Colorado National Guard". Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ↑ "PN636 — Army". 23 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- ↑ "Documents - CTTAGBioSvc". Archived from the original on 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
- ↑ "PN837 — Brig. Gen. Michael R. Berry — Army". 27 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
- ↑ "Brigadier General Michael R. Berry". Retrieved 2019-03-30.
- ↑ "Biography, John C. Andonie". District of Columbia National Guard. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ↑ "One-on-one with the DCNG interim Commanding General [Image 10 of 15]". DVIDS. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ↑ "PN684 - Army". U.S. Congress. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ↑ "Brigadier General Aaron R. Dean, II". Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ↑ Quinones, Neysa Huerlas (2023-04-22). "New adjutant general welcomed by Florida National Guard". DVIDS. Starke, Florida: 107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
- ↑ "PN532 — Army". U.S. Congress. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
- ↑ "New Georgia defense chief takes command in Marietta". Retrieved 2019-01-28.
- 1 2 3 Leon Guerrero, Lou (March 1, 2023). "Governor Taps Colonel Mike Cruz as New Adjutant General". Office of the Governor. Hagåtña, Guam. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
- ↑ General Officer Management (2023). "Biography, Michael W. Cruz". National Guard.mil. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
- 1 2 "Major General Kenneth S. Hara". Retrieved 2020-01-03.
- 1 2 "Major General (ID) Michael J. Garshak". Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- ↑ "PN652 — Brig. Gen. Michael J. Garshak — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ↑ "Major General (IL) Richard R. Neely". Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ↑ "Biography, Major General (IN) Roger D. Lyles". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. May 19, 2021.
- ↑ "PN1428 — Brig. Gen. Roger D. Lyles — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- 1 2 "Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. R. Dale Lyles". Indiana National Guard. Indianapolis, IN. September 24, 2019.
- ↑ "PN650 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ Block, Francesca (2023-02-03). "Gov. Kim Reynolds taps Brig. Gen. Stephen Osborn as new National Guard adjutant general". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
- ↑ "Governor Kelly announces swearing in of new Adjutant General". April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- ↑ "VENERDI TO RECEIVE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S POST APRIL 1". KRSL-FM. 2023-03-21.
- ↑ "Biography, Major General (KY) Haldane B. Lamberton". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. February 25, 2022.
- ↑ "The Adjutant General's Message to the Troops". 3 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- 1 2 "Major General (LA) Damian K. Waddell". Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- ↑ "PN653 — Brig. Gen. Damian K. Waddell — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ↑ "Major General Douglas A. Farnham". National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ↑ "Maine Army National Guard — Leadership". Retrieved 2016-03-08.
- ↑ "Biography, Major General Janeen L. Birckhead". Senior Leader Management Office: General Officer Biographies. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. June 13, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Gov. Moore swears in Maryland adjutant general and first secretary of civic innovation department". CBS News. 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- 1 2 "Biography, Major General Gary W. Keefe". Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- 1 2 "Major General Paul D. Rogers". Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Biography, Major General (MN) Shawn P. Manke". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. October 7, 2021.
- 1 2 3 "PN2717 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ↑ "The Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard". Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ↑ "Biography, Major General Janson D. Boyles". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. May 3, 2018.
- ↑ "Miss. Change of Command | Gallery". Retrieved 2016-09-03.
- 1 2 "Biography, Major General (MO) Levon E. Cumpton".
- 1 2 "PN2718 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- 1 2 "Biography, Major General John P. Hronek II". National Guard.mil. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
- 1 2 Martirosov, Dmitry (2023-07-02). "Nebraska National Guard change of command ceremony set for Saturday". The Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ↑ "Adjutant General Change of Command Ceremony [Image 17 of 22]". DVIDS. 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ↑ "PN1230 — Air Force". 2 December 2017. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ↑ "Nevada National Guard gets new leader in history-making move". 8 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
- ↑ "Biography Major General David J. Mikolaities". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. November 23, 2021.
- ↑ "Mikolaities takes over as NH's 26th adjutant general". Retrieved 2018-03-16.
- ↑ "Biography, Brigadier General Lisa S. Hou". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. August 19, 2021.
- ↑ Wildstein, David (May 2, 2021). "Murphy picks Hou as New Jersey's first woman Adjutant General". New Jersey Globe. Livingston, NJ.
- ↑ New Mexico National Guard [@NMNationalGuard] (January 27, 2023). "New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham promoted Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar to his present rank during a packed ceremony Jan. 27th at the National Guard Regional Training Institute here" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Vigil, Joseph (December 10, 2021). "Nava Relinquishes Command of the NMNG". Office of Public Affairs, New Mexico National Guard. Santa Fe, NM.
"In the meantime, per state statutes, my good friend and trusty deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, will assume the daily responsibilities so stay focused and stay ready because our nation and state need you," said Nava.
- 1 2 "Major General Raymond F Shields Jr". Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- 1 2 "Major General Marvin T. Hunt". Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- 1 2 "Major General Alan S. Dohrmann". Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- 1 2 "Ohio Adjutant General". Retrieved 2019-03-30.
- ↑ "PN2719-1 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ↑ Oklahoma National Guard (November 10, 2021). "Governor Stitt Names New Adjutant General for Oklahoma". News from the Oklahoma National Guard. Oklahoma City, OK.
- ↑ "Governor Kotek Names Colonel Gronewold as Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard". State of Oregon. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ↑ "Governor Kotek Names Colonel Gronewold as Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard". State of Oregon. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- 1 2 Office of the Governor (December 5, 2020). "Governor Wolf Announces Retirement of PA Adjutant General". Governor.Pa.Gov. Harrisburg, PA: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- 1 2 Soto, Eliezer (2023-09-21). "Puerto Rico National Guard Youth Program Develops Future Leaders". DVIDS. Ponce, Puerto Rico: 159th Wing. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
- ↑ "Major General Christopher P. Callahan". Retrieved 2018-05-02.
- ↑ "New adjutant general sworn in for R.I. National Guard". Retrieved 2016-04-02.
- 1 2 "Major General Van McCarty". Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- ↑ "The S.C. National Guard has a new commanding general". Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- 1 2 "Gov. Noem Announces Next Adjutant General". Government of South Dakota. 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
- ↑ Keene, C.J. (2023-08-07). "South Dakota National Guard names 23rd adjutant general". SDPB. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- 1 2 "Major General Warner A. Ross II". Retrieved 2023-12-23.
- ↑ "Biography, Major General Thomas M. Suelzer". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. March 14, 2022.
- ↑ Barragán, James (March 14, 2022). "Gov. Greg Abbott replaces Texas military leader who has overseen heavily criticized border mission". The Texas Tribune. Austin, TX.
- 1 2 Lewis, Scott (August 21, 2023). "Boyack appointed new commander of Utah National Guard as Turley retires amid scandal". ABC4.com. Salt Lake City, UT: KTVX-TV.
- ↑ National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office (September 11, 2020). "Biography, Major General (VT) Gregory C. Knight". NationalGuard.mil. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ↑ Johnson, Mark (February 21, 2019). "Knight elected to replace Cray as head of Vermont National Guard". VT Digger. Montpelier, VT.
- ↑ "Biography, Major General (VI) Kodjo S. Knox-Limbacker". National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office. Arlington, VA: National Guard Bureau.
- ↑ Shimel, Judi (May 7, 2019). "Report Finds VING Lawless, Needing Overhaul". The Source. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
- ↑ Puryear, Cotton (2023-03-31). "Governor Youngkin appoints Brig. Gen. James W. Ring as 29th Adjutant General of Virginia". Virginia National Guard. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia National Guard Public Affairs. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
- 1 2 "Major General (WA) Bret D. Daugherty". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- 1 2 "Major General (WV) William E. Crane". Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ↑ "Major General Paul E. Knapp". Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ↑ "PN840 — Army". 27 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
- ↑ Scott, Ramsey (March 29, 2019). "New commander of Wyoming National Guard takes over". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Cheyenne, WY.