Each state in the United States has a senior military officer – the state adjutant general – who is de facto commander of a state's military forces, including the National Guard, the naval militia, and any state defense forces. This officer is known as TAG (The Adjutant General), and is subordinated to the chief executive.
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Source of appointment
In 48 states (49 beginning in 2016),[1] 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 the legislature; South Carolina, where the Adjutant General is elected by the populace, however, beginning in 2016, the South Carolina Adjutant General will be appointed by the Governor;[1] and the District of Columbia, where a commanding general is appointed by the President of the United States of America.[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 commander of the NGB 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 his 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. Seven of these in addition to Illinois also have 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.
References
- ^ a b http://ballotpedia.org/South_Carolina_Appointment_of_Adjutant_General,_Amendment_2_(2014)
- ^ "Adjutants General", The Adjutants General Association Online Resources (The National Guard Association of the United States), retrieved April 6, 2012
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c "STATE ADJUTANTS GENERAL ROSTER" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-11-20.
- ^ "The Adjutant General". Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "DMVA Leadership". Retrieved 2015-01-30.
- ^ "Major General William D. Wofford" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "Major General David S. Baldwin, The Adjutant General, California Military Department,". Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "Major General H. Michael Edwards". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Documents - CTTAGBioSvc". Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "Commanding General". Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "Major General Michael A. Calhoun". Retrieved 2015-07-14.
- ^ "Jarrard becomes head of Georgia Department of Defense". Retrieved 2015-02-25.
- ^ "Major General Benny M. Paulino". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "The Adjutant General – Major General Arthur J. Logan". Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ^ "MAJOR GENERAL GARY L. SAYLER". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Adjutant General, IL National Guard". Retrieved 2013-08-17.
- ^ "Brig. Gen. Courtney Carr named adjutant general of Indiana". 13 WTHR Indianapolis. May 26, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
- ^ "Major General Timothy E. Orr". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Kansas Adjutant General's Department - TAG Biography". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Major General (KY) Edward W. Tonini" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "The Adjutant General for Louisiana — Louisiana National Guard". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Maine Army National Guard — Leadership". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "MDNG: TAG Bio". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Home - The Adjutant General". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Major General Gregory J. Vadnais". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Mississippi National Guard - Leadership". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Missouri National Guard | The Adjutant General". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Brigadier General Matthew T. Quinn". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Major General Daryl L. Bohac". Retrieved 2015-03-07.
- ^ "Brigadier General William R. Burks". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Major General William N. Reddel III". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Brigadier General Michael L. Cunniff". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Governor appoints Salas to lead Guard". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Major General Patrick A. Murphy". Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Major General Gregory A. Lusk". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Ohio governor swears in new leader of National Guard troops". Retrieved 2015-04-05.
- ^ "Fallin Names Asher As Adjutant General, Others To Veterans Commission | The McCarville Report". mccarvillereport.com. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
- ^ "Major Brigadier Michael E. Stencel". Retrieved 2015-10-17.
- ^ "Adjutant General". Retrieved 2015-06-25.
- ^ "Major General Kevin R. McBride". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General Robert E. Livingston, Jr.". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General Timothy A. Reisch". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General Terry M. Haston". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General John F. Nichols". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "www.ut.ngb.army.mil" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General Renaldo Rivera". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Brigadier General Timothy P. Williams". Retrieved 2014-06-06.
- ^ "Major General (WA) Bret D. Daugherty". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General James A. Hoyer". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General (WI) Donald P. Dunbar". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
- ^ "Major General (WY) Kenneth L. Reiner". Retrieved 2012-11-24.
External links
- "NGB-GO Biographies".
- "Adjutants General Association of the United States".
- National Guard Association of the United States