Virginia National Guard

Joint Base Langley-Eustis identified as candidate for F-22 Raptor Formal Training Unit
March 27, 2019 — The U.S. Air Force has identified Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, as the candidate base for the F-22 Raptor formal training unit and associated T-38 aircraft, according to announcement made March 25, 2019, by the Secretary of the Air Force. The announcement also indicated the Air Force filed a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to assess the potential environmental consequences of the proposed action in the federal register as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. ... MORE

Events honor Virginia National Guard’s women Soldiers and veterans
March 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Two recent events marking Women’s History Month and Virginia Women Veterans Week 2019 honored Virginia National Guard’s female Soldiers and veterans, including one woman serving with the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Sgt. Taylor Cunningham, who works full-time with the 1-111th, was recognized during the Military Through The Ages event at the historic Jamestown Settlement March. 16, 2019, near Williamsburg, Virginia. The annual event featured a special salute to women’s wartime service, from their original support roles to their modern inclusion in combat units... MORE

New assignments for Rose, Zana announced
March 15, 2019 — RICHMOND. Va. — National Guard Bureau announced new assignments for Brig. Gen. Michelle M. Rose and Brig. Gen. William L. Zana Feb. 14, 2019. Rose will serve as the J4 director of logistics and engineering at Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command in a full-time status starting in July, and Zana will become the J5 deputy director for Africa starting in June. Rose currently serves as the National Guard Bureau J4 director of logistics in a traditional Guard status and Zana is the deputy commander for Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa in a full-time status... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 50 graduates 117 cadets
March 14, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 117 cadets from Class 50 March 2, 2019, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, chief operations officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, joined Mark Chicoine, director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, in congratulating the cadets on finishing the five-and-a-half-month program... MORE

Ryan promoted, takes command of Virginia Air National Guard
February 16, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Jeffrey L. Ryan was officially promoted to brigadier general Feb. 15, 2019, during a ceremony at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, and took command of the Virginia Air National Guard. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced Feb. 6, 2019, that Ryan would succeed Brig. Gen. Marshall Kjelvik as the VNG Air Component Commander effective Feb. 5. Ryan most recently served as the vice commander of the 192nd Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton... MORE

Profita named new VNG command senior enlisted leader
January 25, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Command Chief Master Sgt. James J. Profita will succeed Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Ferris as the Virginia National Guard’s command senior enlisted leader, according to an announcement made Jan. 24, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Ferris now serves as the command sergeant major for the 29th Infantry Division, and Profita serves as senior enlisted leader for strategy and policy and senior enlisted Guard advisor at Headquarters U.S. European Command. His assignment as CSEL is effective April 1, 2019... MORE

Puckett named VNG command chief warrant officer
January 24, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joseph W. Puckett has been named as the Virginia National Guard’s new Command Chief Warrant Officer, according to an announcement made Jan. 24, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The assignment is effective April 1, 2019, and follows the pending retirement of current Chief Warrant Officer 4 Donald Unmussig. “Chief Warrant Officer 4 Unmussig has provided outstanding leadership to the Warrant Officer Corps, and sage counsel to me on all related matters,” Williams wrote in the announcement. “His contributions to the Army logistics community and National Guard as a whole have been remarkable. We truly appreciate his dedication and sacrifice to our commonwealth and nation, and wish him the very best in retirement.”... MORE

Virginia recruiters recognized for excellence
January 24, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, recognized the Virginia Army National Guard’s top recruiters Jan. 23, 2019, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. He also commended the Recruiting and Retention Battalion for their success at the recent National Guard Strength Maintenance Advisory Group – Region II competitions... MORE

AG shares legislative priorities with JLC, GA Military Caucus
January 18, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, updated members of the Virginia General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus and the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations on the Virginia National Guard and discussed the VNG’s legislative initiatives for the 2019 session of the Virginia General Assembly Jan. 16, 2019, in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Governor commends Virginia National Guard
January 18, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins commended the Virginia National Guard for the organization’s service to commonwealth and country at a legislative reception hosted Jan. 16, 2019, by the Virginia National Guard Association and Virginia Army and Air National Guard Enlisted Association in Richmond, Virginia. “Over the last year I have been so proud of all the great work that our Guard does, whether it has been serving overseas or answering the call when we have had natural disasters,” Northam said. “You are always there, and people know that you are always there and you are known for your service to the commonwealth.”... MORE

VNG speaker series: Command historian offers leadership perspective
January 17, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, plus guests, retirees and family members, received some valuable leadership lessons from an unlikely source during VNG’s speaker series Jan. 16, 2019, at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. VNG command historian Al Barnes, a retired chief warrant officer 4 and former enlisted Marine, titled his presentation “Leadership lessons: A historians perspective.” During the hour-long presentation, Barnes used examples from military history to provide simple but meaningful lessons to the leaders in attendance... MORE

Virginia National Guard dedicates new headquarters to D-Day veteran
January 8, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s newly-built Joint Force Headquarters was officially named and dedicated for Roanoke native and D-Day veteran Sgt. John Robert “Bob” Slaughter Jan. 8, 2019, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard to dedicate new headquarters to D-Day veteran from Roanoke
January 7, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s newly-built Joint Force Headquarters will be officially named and dedicated for D-day veteran Sgt. John Robert “Bob” Slaughter at 10 a.m. Jan. 8, 2019, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, will join members of Slaughter’s family and distinguished guests to dedicate the headquarters building, which officially opened in May 2018... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade conducts groundbreaking for new headquarters
November 26, 2018 — Senior leadership of the Virginia National Guard, 91st Cyber Brigade and Fort Belvoir broke ground on a new headquarters for the 91st Cyber Brigade Nov. 16, 2018, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia... MORE

Veterans recognized across the commonwealth
November 14, 2018 — Virginia National Guard personnel took part in Veterans Day observations across the commonwealth Nov. 10-12, 2018, to honor all Americans who served and are currently serving in the armed forces as well as commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I. Senior leaders took part in ceremonies with elected officials, and Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force took part in community events where they recognized veterans, sang the national anthem and shared their experiences with school students. Commonwealth ChalleNGe cadets paid tribute to veterans by marching in a parade in Virignia Beach, and the 29th Infantry Division Band performed at events in Roanoke and Bassett... MORE

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