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Chief of the National Guard Bureau
NGB-seal-high
Seal of the National Guard Bureau
Flag of the National Guard Bureau
Flag of the Chief
GEN Daniel R. Hokanson
Incumbent
GEN Daniel R. Hokanson, USA
since 3 August 2020
National Guard Bureau
Abbreviation CNGB
Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Reports to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Nominator President
Appointer Senate
Term length 4 years
Renewable
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C. § 10502
Formation 14 February 1908
First holder COL Erasmus M. Weaver Jr.
Deputy Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Website Official Website

The chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) is the highest-ranking officer of the National Guard and the head of the National Guard Bureau.[1] The position is a statutory office (10 U.S.C. § 10502), held by a federally recognized commissioned officer who has served at least 10 years of federally recognized active duty in the National Guard; the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard.[2] In a separate capacity as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (10 U.S.C. § 151), the chief is a military adviser to the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the president on matters pertaining to the National Guard.[3]

The chief is nominated for appointment by the president from any eligible National Guard officers holding the rank of major general or above,[4] who also meets the requirements for the position as determined by defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,[4] 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.[4] The chief serves a four-year term of office at the pleasure of the President.[4] By statute, the Chief is appointed as a four-star general[4] in the Army or Air Force, serving as a reserve officer on active duty.[4]

History[]

In 1908, the United States Army created the Militia Bureau to oversee training and readiness for the National Guard as part of implementing the Militia Act of 1903. From 1908 to 1911, Erasmus M. Weaver Jr. served as head of the Army's Militia Bureau, the first person to hold the position.[5] The National Defense Act of 1920 included a provision that the chief of the Militia Bureau must be a National Guard officer.[6][7][8] In 1921 Pennsylvania National Guard officer George C. Rickards became the first Guardsman to serve as Chief, and he held the post until his 1925 retirement.[9]

In September 1947, the Air National Guard was created, and the positions of Chief the Army Division and Chief of the Air Division were established, with the directors subordinate to the NGB Chief.[10] In 1953, Air National Guard Director Earl T. Ricks served as acting chief of the National Guard Bureau, making him the first Air Guard officer to hold the chief's position.[11] In the mid-1970s, the chief of the National Guard Bureau position was elevated from major general to lieutenant general, and La Vern E. Weber became the first NGB chief to wear three stars.[12]

The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act elevated the chief of the National Guard Bureau to the four-star rank of general making Craig McKinley the first National Guard officer to achieve four-star rank. In 2012, the position became the seventh member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff via the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on 31 December 2011. The sitting Joint Chiefs at the time, had opposed the addition of another member, but the president promised in his 2008 campaign to elevate the office.[13]

Previous flag[]

Chiefngbureauflag

This positional flag for the chief of the National Guard Bureau was used from 1998 to 2008. The dark blue represented the Army National Guard, the light blue represented the Air National Guard. The badge in the center is the branch insignia of the National Guard Bureau. The two triangles in the upper fly are "flight devices" and represent the Air National Guard.

The version of the flag which appears in the information box at the top of the page was adopted in 2008 when the position of Chief of the National Guard Bureau was upgraded to four-star general.

List of chiefs of the National Guard Bureau[]

Defense Secretary Hosts Change of Responsibility Ceremony (50185532601)

General Daniel R. Hokanson, incoming chief of the National Guard Bureau, receives the NGB command guidon from Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on August 3, 2020.

No. Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Erasmus M. Weaver Jr.
Colonel Erasmus M. Weaver Jr.
(1854–1920)
14 February 190814 March 19113 years, 28 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
2
Robert K
Brigadier General Robert K. Evans
(1852–1926)
15 March 191131 August 19121 year, 169 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
3
Albert L
Major General Albert L. Mills
(1854–1916)
1 September 191218 September 19164 years, 17 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
George W
Colonel George W. McIver (Acting)
(1858–1947)
18 September 191626 October 191638 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
4
William A
Major General William A. Mann
(1854–1934)
26 October 191626 November 1917262 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
5
Jesse McI
Major General Jesse McI. Carter
(1863–1930)
26 November 191715 August 1918262 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
John W
Brigadier General John W. Heavey (Acting)
(1867–1941)
15 August 19185 February 1919174 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
5
Jesse McI
Major General Jesse McI. Carter
(1863–1930)
5 February 191928 June 19212 years, 143 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
6
George C
Major General George C. Rickards
(1860–1933)
29 June 192128 June 19253 years, 364 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
7
Creed C
Major General Creed C. Hammond
(1874–1940)
29 June 192528 June 19293 years, 364 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
Ernest R
Colonel Ernest R. Redmond (Acting)
(1883–1966)
29 June 192930 September 192993 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
8
William G
Major General William G. Everson
(1879–1954)
1 October 192930 November 19312 years, 60 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
9
George E
Major General George E. Leach
(1876–1955)
1 December 193130 November 19353 years, 364 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
Herold J
Colonel Herold J. Weiler (Acting)
(1886–1945)
1 December 193516 January 193646 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
John F
Colonel John F. Williams (Acting)
(1887–1953)
17 January 193630 January 193613 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
10
Albert H
Major General Albert H. Blanding
(1876–1970)
31 January 193630 January 19404 years, 0 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
11
John F
Major General John F. Williams
(1887–1953)
31 January 194030 January 19444 years, 0 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
John F
Major General John F. Williams (Acting)
(1887–1953)
31 January 194431 January 19462 years, 0 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
12
Butler B
Major General Butler B. Miltonberger
(1897–1977)
1 February 194629 September 19471 year, 240 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
13
Kenneth F
Major General Kenneth F. Cramer
(1894–1954)
30 September 19474 September 19502 years, 339 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
Raymond H
Major General Raymond H. Fleming (Acting)
(1889–1974)
5 September 195013 August 1951342 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
14
Raymond H
Major General Raymond H. Fleming
(1889–1974)
14 August 195115 February 19531 year, 185 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
Earl T
Major General Earl T. Ricks (Acting)
(1908–1954)
16 February 195321 June 1953125 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
15
Edgar C
Major General Edgar C. Erickson
(1896–1989)
22 June 195331 May 19595 years, 342 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
Winston P
Major General Winston P. Wilson (Acting)
(1911–1996)
1 June 195919 July 195948 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
16
Donald W
Major General Donald W. McGowan
(1899–1967)
20 July 195930 August 19634 years, 41 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
17
Winston P
Major General Winston P. Wilson
(1911–1996)
31 August 196331 August 19718 years, 0 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
18
Francis S
Major General Francis S. Greenlief
(1921–1999)
1 September 197123 June 19742 years, 295 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
19
La Vern E
Lieutenant General La Vern E. Weber
(1923–1999)
16 August 197415 August 19827 years, 364 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
20
Emmett H. Walker Jr.
Lieutenant General Emmett H. Walker Jr.
(1924–2007)
16 August 198215 August 19863 years, 364 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
21
Herbert R. Temple Jr.
Lieutenant General Herbert R. Temple Jr.
(born 1928)
16 August 198631 January 19903 years, 168 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
22
John B
Lieutenant General John B. Conaway
(born 1934)
1 February 19901 December 19933 years, 303 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
-
Philip G
Major General Philip G. Killey (Acting)
(born 1941)
2 December 19931 January 1994210 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
-
Raymond F
Major General Raymond F. Rees (Acting)
(born 1944)
2 January 199431 July 1994210 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
-
John R. D'Araujo Jr.
Major General John R. D'Araujo Jr. (Acting)
(born 1943)
1 August 199430 September 199460 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
23
Edward D
Lieutenant General Edward D. Baca
(1938–2020)
1 October 199431 July 19983 years, 303 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
24
Russell C
Lieutenant General Russell C. Davis
(born 1938)
4 August 19983 August 20023 years, 364 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
-
Raymond F
Major General Raymond F. Rees (Acting)
(born 1944)
4 August 200210 April 2003249 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
25
H Steven Blum
Lieutenant General H Steven Blum
(born 1946)
11 April 200317 November 20085 years, 220 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
26
Craig R
General Craig R. McKinley
(born 1952)
17 November 20086 September 20123 years, 294 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
27
Frank J
General Frank J. Grass
(born 1951)
7 September 20123 August 20163 years, 331 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
28
Joseph L
General Joseph L. Lengyel
(born 1959)
3 August 20163 August 20204 years, 0 daysMark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
29
Daniel R
General Daniel R. Hokanson
(born 1963)
3 August 2020Incumbent3 years, 221 daysMark of the United States Army
U.S. Army

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. "10 USC 10502 Chief of the National Guard Bureau: appointment; adviser on National Guard matters; grade; succession". Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/10502-. 
  2. U.S. Congress (January 28, 2008). "Public Law 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008". Washington, DC: U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-110publ181/html/PLAW-110publ181.htm. 
  3. United States Congress (2008). "SEC. 1812. Establishment of National Guard Bureau as Joint Activity of the Department of Defense". govtrack. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-4986. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Public Law 110-181.
  5. United States Infantry Association, Infantry Journal, Volume 5, 1908, page 292
  6. Dodd, Mead, Inc., The New International Year Book, 1934, page 575
  7. United States Field Artillery Association, The Field Artillery Journal, Volume 15, 1925, page 308
  8. Pittsburgh Press, "Maj. Smathers becomes First in Command", April 13, 1919
  9. Doubler, Michael Dale; Listman, John W. (2003). The National Guard: An Illustrated History of Americas Citizen-soldiers. Dulles, VA: Brassey's, Inc.. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-57488-389-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=cpaCSfXbbusC&pg=PA68. 
  10. "New Commanding General of the Air Force Division". Chicago, IL: Ziff-Davis Publishing. December 1, 1948. p. 10. https://books.google.com/books?id=9TTwMHqxDWwC&pg=PA10. 
  11. "Chief of the National Guard Bureau". Washington, DC: National Guard Association of the United States. 1953. p. 8. https://books.google.com/books?id=LXDfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22earl+t.+ricks%22. 
  12. Frazier, David L.. "Biography, Weber, La Vern Erick". Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Historical Society. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=WE008. 
  13. Thompson, Mark (4 January 2012). "The Changing of the Guard". Time. http://nation.time.com/2012/01/04/the-changing-of-the-guard/. 

External links[]



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