State adjutant general explained

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. 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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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^[4]	Adjutant General	State, district, or insular area	Rank	Svc	Assumed office	Appointed by
The Adjutant General of Alabama	David K. Pritchett	Alabama	Major General^[5]	ARNG	2024	Governor
The Adjutant General of Alaska	Torrence Saxe	Alaska	Lieutenant General (AK)^[6] ^[7]	ANG	2019^[8]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Arizona	Kerry L. Muehlenbeck	Arizona	Major General^[9]	ANG	2021^[10]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Arkansas	Chad Bridges	Arkansas	Colonel	ARNG	2024^[11]	Governor
The Adjutant General of California	Matthew P. Beevers	California	Major General	ARNG	2023^[12]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Colorado	Laura L. Clellan	Colorado	Major General	ARNG	2020^[13]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Connecticut	Francis J. Evon Jr.	Connecticut	Major General^[14]	ARNG	2018^[15]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Delaware	Michael R. Berry	Delaware	Major General^[16]	ARNG	2019^[17]	Governor
The Commanding General, District of Columbia National Guard		District of Columbia	Major General^[18]	ARNG	2023^[19]	President
The Adjutant General of the District of Columbia National Guard	Leland L. Blanchard II	District of Columbia	Brigadier General^[20]	ARNG	2024	President
The Adjutant General of Florida	John D. Haas	Florida	Major General	ARNG	2023^[21]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Georgia	Richard D. Wilson	Georgia	Major General	ARNG	2024^[22]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Guam	Michael Cruz^[23]	Guam	Brigadier General (GU)^[24]	ARNG	2023	Governor
The Adjutant General of Hawaii	Kenneth S. Hara	Hawaii	Major General	ARNG	2019^[25]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Idaho	Timothy J. Donnellan	Idaho	Major General^[26]	ANG	2024^[27]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Illinois	Rodney C. Boyd	Illinois	Major General	ARNG	2024^[28]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Indiana	R. Dale Lyles	Indiana	Major General^[29] ^[30]	ARNG	2019^[31]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Iowa	Stephen E. Osborn	Iowa	Major General^[32]	ARNG	2023^[33]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Kansas	Michael T. Venerdi	Kansas	Brigadier General^[34]	ANG	2023^[35]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Kentucky	Haldane B. Lamberton	Kentucky	Major General (KY)^[36]	ARNG	2020^[37]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Louisiana	Thomas C. Friloux	Louisiana	Brigadier General^[38]	ARNG	2024	Governor
The Adjutant General of Maine	Diane L. Dunn	Maine	Brigadier General^[39]	ARNG	2024	Governor
The Adjutant General of Maryland	Janeen L. Birckhead	Maryland	Major General^[40]	ARNG	2023^[41]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Massachusetts	Gary W. Keefe	Massachusetts	Major General	ANG	2016^[42]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Michigan	Paul D. Rogers	Michigan	Major General	ARNG	2019^[43]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Minnesota	Shawn P. Manke	Minnesota	Major General^[44] ^[45]	ARNG	2020^[46]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Mississippi	Bobby M. Ginn Jr.	Mississippi	Major General (MS)^[47] ^[48]	ARNG	2024^[49]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Missouri	Levon E. Cumpton	Missouri	Major General^[50]	ARNG	2019^[51]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Montana	John P. Hronek	Montana	Major General	ANG	2021^[52]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Nebraska	Craig W. Strong	Nebraska	Major General^[53]	ANG	2023^[54] ^[55]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Nevada	Ondra L. Berry	Nevada	Major General^[56]	ANG	2019^[57]	Governor
The Adjutant General of New Hampshire	David J. Mikolaities	New Hampshire	Major General^[58]	ARNG	2017^[59]	Governor
The Adjutant General of New Jersey	Lisa Hou	New Jersey	Major General^[60]	ARNG	2020^[61]	Governor
The Adjutant General of New Mexico	Miguel Aguilar	New Mexico	Major General^[62]	ARNG	2021^[63]	Governor
The Adjutant General of New York	Raymond F. Shields Jr.	New York	Major General	ARNG	2018^[64]	Governor
The Adjutant General of North Carolina	M. Todd Hunt	North Carolina	Major General	ARNG	2019^[65]	Governor
The Adjutant General of North Dakota	Alan S. Dohrmann	North Dakota	Major General	ARNG	2015^[66]
The Adjutant General of Ohio	John C. Harris Jr.	Ohio	Major General	ARNG	2019^[67]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Oklahoma	Thomas H. Mancino	Oklahoma	Major General^[68]	ARNG	2021^[69]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Oregon	Alan Gronewold	Oregon	Brigadier General^[70]	ARNG	2023^[71]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Pennsylvania	Mark J. Schindler	Pennsylvania	Major General^[72]	ARNG	2020	Governor
The Adjutant General of Puerto Rico	Miguel A. Mendez	Puerto Rico	Major General^[73]	ARNG	2023^[74]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Rhode Island	Christopher P. Callahan	Rhode Island	Major General^[75]	ARNG	2015^[76]	Governor
The Adjutant General of South Carolina	R. Van McCarty	South Carolina	Major General	ARNG	2019^[77]	Governor^[78]
The Adjutant General of South Dakota	Mark R. Morrell	South Dakota	Major General (SD)^[79]	ARNG	2023^[80]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Tennessee	Warner A. Ross II	Tennessee	Major General	ARNG	2019^[81]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Texas	Thomas M. Suelzer	Texas	Major General^[82]	ANG	2022^[83]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Utah	Daniel D. Boyack	Utah	Brigadier General^[84]	ANG	2023	Governor
The Adjutant General of Vermont	Gregory C. Knight	Vermont	Major General^[85]	ARNG	2019^[86]	Legislature
The Adjutant General of the U.S. Virgin Islands	Kodjo S. Knox-Limbacker	U.S. Virgin Islands	Major General^[87]	ARNG	2019^[88]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Virginia	James W. Ring	Virginia	Major General	ARNG	2023^[89]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Washington	Gent Welsh Jr.	Washington	Brigadier General	ANG	2024^[90]	Governor
The Adjutant General of West Virginia	William E. Crane	West Virginia	Major General	ARNG	2021^[91]	Governor
The Adjutant General of Wisconsin	David W. May	Wisconsin	Brigadier General^[92]	ANG	2024	Governor
The Adjutant General of Wyoming	Gregory C. Porter	Wyoming	Major General^[93]	ARNG	2019^[94]	Governor

See also

• List of current United States National Guard major generals

External links

• Web site: NGB-GO Biographies.
• Web site: Adjutants General Association of the United States.
• National Guard Association of the United States

Notes and References

1. Web site: South Carolina Appointment of Adjutant General, Amendment 2 (2014).
2. Web site: Adjutants General Association of the United States | (AGAUS) National Guard of the United States. 2012-12-09.
3. Web site: Who We Are and What We Do. 2012-12-09.
4. Web site: STATE ADJUTANTS GENERAL ROSTER. November 20, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121202091251/http://www.agaus.org/assets/templates/agaus/tagroster.pdf. December 2, 2012. Wayback Machine.
5. News: Biertempfel . Maddie . January 5, 2024 . New Adjutant General takes command of Alabama National Guard . WIAT-TV . Birmingham, AL . February 17, 2024.
6. News: Martínezcuello. Francisco. Bethel hosts Alaska National Guard head's promotion, new helicopter. 2023-03-29. 2023-04-05. Bethel, Alaska. Alaska Public Media.
7. Web site: PN2337 — Air Force . 14 December 2020 . 2020-12-15.
8. News: 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.
9. News: Warren . Jamie . June 6, 2021 . Arizona National Guard leader Kerry Muehlenbeck promoted to major general, first woman to fill role . ABC15.com . KNXV-TV . Phoenix, AZ.
10. Web site: Major General Kerry L. Muehlenbeck. 2021-08-31.
11. Web site: Sanders Appoints Colonel Chad Bridges as Secretary of the Military and the 55th Adjutant General. 2024-08-05. 2024-08-06. Little Rock, Arkansas. Governor of Arkansas.
12. Web site: OTAG Cal Guard . 2023-11-20.
13. Web site: Executive Leadership of the Colorado National Guard. 2020-07-31.
14. Web site: PN636 — Army . 23 May 2019 . 2019-05-25.
15. Web site: Documents - CTTAGBioSvc. 2018-07-02. 2014-08-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20140813123305/http://states.ng.mil/sites/CT/Documents/CTTAGBioSvc.aspx. dead.
16. Web site: PN837 — Brig. Gen. Michael R. Berry — Army . 27 June 2019 . 2019-08-12.
17. Web site: Brigadier General Michael R. Berry. 2019-03-30.
18. Web site: Biography, John C. Andonie. District of Columbia National Guard. 2023-10-17.
19. Web site: One-on-one with the DCNG interim Commanding General [Image 10 of 15]]. 2023-10-05. 2023-10-17. DVIDS.
20. Web site: Brigadier General Leland L. Blanchard II. 2024-05-04. District of Columbia National Guard.
21. Web site: Quinones. Neysa Huerlas. New adjutant general welcomed by Florida National Guard. 2023-04-22. 2022-04-23. 107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Starke, Florida. DVIDS.
22. Web site: Gov. Kemp Announces Incoming Adjutant General of Georgia National Guard. 2024-03-15. 2024-03-26. Atlanta, Georgia. Government of State of Georgia.
23. News: Leon Guerrero . Lou . March 1, 2023 . Governor Taps Colonel Mike Cruz as New Adjutant General . Office of the Governor . Hagåtña, Guam . August 5, 2023.
24. Web site: Biography, Michael W. Cruz . General Officer Management . 2023 . National Guard.mil . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . Arlington, VA . August 5, 2023.
25. Web site: Major General Kenneth S. Hara. 2020-01-03.
26. Web site: Taylor. Robert. Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Donnellan becomes Idaho’s 26th adjutant general. 2024-06-25. 2024-06-26. Idaho Army National Guard. Boise, Idaho. DVIDS.
27. Web site: Idaho National Guard to Change Command. 2024-06-22.
28. Web site: Gov. Pritzker Officiates Illinois National Guard Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony. 2024-05-04. 2024-05-09. Office of Governor J.B. Pritzker. Chatham, Illinois. Office of the Governor, State of Illinois.
29. Web site: Biography, Major General (IN) Roger D. Lyles . May 19, 2021 . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA.
30. Web site: PN1428 — Brig. Gen. Roger D. Lyles — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022). 2021-12-01. 2021-12-14. U.S. Congress.
31. Web site: September 24, 2019 . Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. R. Dale Lyles . Indiana National Guard . Indianapolis, IN.
32. Web site: PN650 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022). 2021-06-15. 2022-03-26. U.S. Congress.
33. Web site: Block. Francesca. Gov. Kim Reynolds taps Brig. Gen. Stephen Osborn as new National Guard adjutant general. 2023-02-03. 2023-02-25. Des Moines Register.
34. Web site: Governor Kelly announces swearing in of new Adjutant General. April 2020. 2020-04-15.
35. Web site: VENERDI TO RECEIVE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S POST APRIL 1. 2023-03-21. KRSL-FM.
36. Web site: Biography, Major General (KY) Haldane B. Lamberton . February 25, 2022 . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA.
37. Web site: The Adjutant General's Message to the Troops. 3 April 2020. 2020-05-08.
38. Web site: Biography, Brigadier General Thomas C. Friloux . 2024 . The Adjutant General of Louisiana . Louisiana National Guard . New Orleans, LA . February 17, 2024.
39. Web site: Maine Adjutant General Transfer of Authority [Image 2 of 9]]. 2024-02-02. DVIDS.
40. Web site: Biography, Major General Janeen L. Birckhead . June 13, 2023 . Senior Leader Management Office: General Officer Biographies . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA . July 20, 2023.
41. Web site: Gov. Moore swears in Maryland adjutant general and first secretary of civic innovation department. 2023-04-27. 2023-05-01. CBS News.
42. Web site: Biography, Major General Gary W. Keefe. February 28, 2022.
43. Web site: Major General Paul D. Rogers. January 12, 2022.
44. Web site: Biography, Major General (MN) Shawn P. Manke . October 7, 2021 . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA.
45. Web site: PN2717 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022). 2022-11-14. 2022-11-16. U.S. Congress.
46. Web site: The Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard. 2020-08-14.
47. Web site: Nominations Confirmed (Non-Civilian): 2023-12-05 PN1114 Army . December 5, 2023 . Senate.gov . United States Senate . Washington, DC . August 6, 2024.
48. News: July 30, 2024 . Governor Reeves Promotes Brigadier General Bobby M. Ginn, Jr. to Major General . Vicksburg News . Vicksburg, MS.
49. Web site: Governor Reeves Appoints Major General Bobby M. Ginn, Jr. as Adjutant General of Mississippi. 2024-07-31. 2024-08-06. Governor of Mississippi.
50. Web site: PN2718 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022). 2022-11-14. 2022-11-16. U.S. Congress.
51. Web site: Biography, Major General (MO) Levon E. Cumpton.
52. Web site: Biography, Major General John P. Hronek II . 2021 . National Guard.mil . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA . August 28, 2021.
53. Web site: Biography, Major General Craig W. Strong . Senior Leader Management Office, General Officer Management . December 5, 2023 . National Guard.mil . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA . June 12, 2024.
54. Web site: Adjutant General Change of Command Ceremony [Image 17 of 22]]. 2023-07-08. 2023-08-10. DVIDS.
55. Web site: Martirosov. Dmitry. Nebraska National Guard change of command ceremony set for Saturday. 2023-07-02. 2023-07-08. The Lincoln Journal Star.
56. Web site: PN1230 — Air Force . 2 December 2017 . 2020-05-08.
57. Web site: Nevada National Guard gets new leader in history-making move. 8 September 2019. 2019-09-17.
58. Web site: Biography Major General David J. Mikolaities . November 23, 2021 . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA.
59. Web site: Mikolaities takes over as NH's 26th adjutant general. 2018-03-16.
60. Web site: Olsen. Mark. Hou promoted to major general [Image 4 of 8]]. 2024-02-03. 2023-02-07. New Jersey National Guard. Lawrenceville, New Jersey. DVIDS.
61. News: Wildstein . David . May 2, 2021 . Murphy picks Hou as New Jersey's first woman Adjutant General . New Jersey Globe . Livingston, NJ.
62. New Mexico National Guard. NMNationalGuard. 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.. 1619076243969957892.
63. News: 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..
64. Web site: Major General Raymond F Shields Jr.. 2018-10-19.
65. Web site: Major General Marvin T. Hunt. 2020-11-19.
66. Web site: Major General Alan S. Dohrmann. 2020-11-19.
67. Web site: Ohio Adjutant General. 2019-03-30.
68. Web site: PN2719-1 — Army, 117th Congress (2021-2022). 2022-11-14. 2023-03-03. U.S. Congress.
69. News: Oklahoma National Guard . November 10, 2021 . Governor Stitt Names New Adjutant General for Oklahoma . News from the Oklahoma National Guard . Oklahoma City, OK.
70. Web site: Hughel. John. Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold sworn in as Oregon Adjutant General. 2023-11-30. 2024-05-04. Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office. Salem, Oregon. DVIDS.
71. Web site: Governor Kotek Names Colonel Gronewold as Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard . 2023-10-18. 2023-11-11. State of Oregon.
72. Web site: Governor Wolf Announces Retirement of PA Adjutant General . Office of the Governor . December 5, 2020 . Governor.Pa.Gov . Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . Harrisburg, PA.
73. Web site: Biography, Major General Miguel A. Mendez . Senior Leader Management Office, General Officer Management . December 5, 2023 . National Guard.mil . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA . June 12, 2024.
74. Web site: Soto. Eliezer. Puerto Rico National Guard Youth Program Develops Future Leaders. 2023-09-21. 2023-09-30. 159th Wing. Ponce, Puerto Rico. DVIDS.
75. Web site: Major General Christopher P. Callahan. 2018-05-02.
76. Web site: New adjutant general sworn in for R.I. National Guard. 2016-04-02.
77. Web site: Major General Van McCarty. 2019-02-17.
78. Web site: The S.C. National Guard has a new commanding general. 2019-02-17.
79. Web site: Keene. C.J.. South Dakota National Guard names 23rd adjutant general. 2023-08-07. 2023-08-10. SDPB.
80. Web site: Gov. Noem Announces Next Adjutant General. 2023-04-28. 2023-08-05. Government of South Dakota.
81. Web site: Major General Warner A. Ross II. 2023-12-23.
82. Web site: Biography, Major General Thomas M. Suelzer . March 14, 2022 . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA.
83. News: Barragán . James . March 14, 2022 . Gov. Greg Abbott replaces Texas military leader who has overseen heavily criticized border mission . . Austin, TX.
84. News: Lewis . Scott . August 21, 2023 . Boyack appointed new commander of Utah National Guard as Turley retires amid scandal . ABC4.com . KTVX-TV . Salt Lake City, UT.
85. Web site: Biography, Major General (VT) Gregory C. Knight . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . September 11, 2020 . NationalGuard.mil . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA . March 17, 2022.
86. News: Johnson . Mark . February 21, 2019 . Knight elected to replace Cray as head of Vermont National Guard . VT Digger . Montpelier, VT.
87. Web site: Biography, Major General (VI) Kodjo S. Knox-Limbacker . National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management Office . National Guard Bureau . Arlington, VA.
88. News: Shimel . Judi . May 7, 2019 . Report Finds VING Lawless, Needing Overhaul . The Source . St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
89. Web site: Puryear. Cotton. Governor Youngkin appoints Brig. Gen. James W. Ring as 29th Adjutant General of Virginia. 2023-03-31. 2023-04-01. Virginia National Guard Public Affairs. Richmond, Virginia. Virginia National Guard.
90. Web site: Washington National Guard welcomes new adjutant general [Image 8 of 8]]. 2024-06-29. 2024-07-03.
91. Web site: Major General (WV) William E. Crane. January 4, 2021.
92. Web site: Leadership . Wisconsin National Guard . 12 June 2024.
93. Web site: PN840 — Army. 27 June 2019. 2019-07-04.
94. News: Scott . Ramsey . March 29, 2019 . New commander of Wyoming National Guard takes over . . Cheyenne, WY.