Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau

The Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau (VCNGB) is the second highest-ranking officer of the National Guard Bureau, which is a joint activity of the United States Department of Defense. The Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau is the second in charge of the National Guard of the United States; which is a joint reserve component of the United States Army and the United States Air Force. The VCNGB serves as the principal advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Secretary of Defense, through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on matters involving non-federalized National Guard forces and on other matters as determined by the United States Secretary of Defense. The VCNGB also serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, on matters relating to federalized forces of the National Guard of the United States and its subcomponents; the Army National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States.

The VCNGB is a federally recognized commissioned officer who has served at least 10 years of federally recognized active duty in any of the Reserves of the Army or United States Air Force. The VCNGB is nominated for appointment by the President from any eligible National Guard officers holding the rank of Major General or above, who also meets the requirements for the position as determined by the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, under the advice and/or recommendation from their respective state governors and their service secretary. The nominee must be confirmed via majority vote from the Senate. The VCNBG serves a four-year term of office at the pleasure of the President By statute, the CNGB is appointed as a three-star general of the Army or Air Force, serving as a reserve officer on active duty.

As of April 6, 2016, Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, the Vice Chief since 2012, was nominated to succeed Gen. Frank J. Grass as Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Lengyel succeeded Grass in a ceremony which took place on August 3, 2016. Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson was nominated for reassignment as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau on September 6, 2016. This nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 15, 2016.