RICHMOND, Va. –
Col. Todd H. Hubbard will succeed Brig. Gen. James W. Ring as the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, according to an announcement made April 3, 2023, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Williams will retire effective July 1 after nearly 40 years of service, and Ring will be the 29th Adjutant General of Virginia effective June 3. Hubbard will assume the DJS duties effective May 6.
Col. Paul C. Gravely will replace Hubbard as the Virginia Army National Guard Chief of Staff, and Col. Kurt K. Kobernik’s will succeed Gravely as the VAARNG G3 State Training and Operations Officer. Both assignments are effective May 6.Biographical Summaries
Biographical Summaries
Hubbard, a native of Meadows of Dan, Virginia, joined the Virginia Army National Guard in 1991 after graduating from the Virginia Military Institute. He served in staff and command positions in 1st Battalion, 246th Field Artillery Regiment, as well as 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment where he served as commander for inaugural certification of Virginia’s Virginia National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Response Force Package and the initial fielding of M119A2 howitzers. Hubbard served in multiple staff assignments in the 29th Infantry Division, deployed with the 29th to Afghanistan in 2010, and he later served as commander of the 116th Military Engagement Team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As the Joint Force Headquarter J7 exercise director he was responsible for planning and executing Virginia’s Vigilant Guard Exercise. He commanded the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute as well as served as the J3 director of joint operations prior to his assignment as the VaARNG chief of staff. Hubbard’s military education includes Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff Officer Course, Operational Electronic Warfare, U.S. Army War College, Harvard Kennedy Homeland Security Seminar, and Senior Leader Development Seminar.
Gravely began his Army career as in 1995 as a private in West Virginia National Guard before attending Officer Candidate School and earning his commission as an armor officer. He’s held staff and command positions in the JFHQ-VA , the 116th IBCT, the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. He spent more than 20 years in various roles at MTC Fort Pickett, including service as the garrison commander in 2018. His previous assignment was as the VaARNG G3 state training and operations officer. He has deployed twice, in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Bluefield State College, and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Kobernik began his military career upon graduating from the University of Washington and commissioning as an ordnance officer in 1999. He served with the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of South Korea and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division. After that, Kobernik transitioned into the Virginia Army National Guard as an infantry officer and served in key command staff positions, to include battle captain, company commander, plans officer, battalion & brigade operations officer, infantry battalion commander, executive officer to the Adjutant General of Virginia and primary joint staff assignments at Joint Forces Headquarters – Virginia. His last assignment was the J3 director of joint operations. Kobernik’s military education includes Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the U.S. Army Intermediate Level Education, the U.S. Army Advanced Operations Course, and the U.S. Army War College.