Virginia National Guard

Flora takes charge of Virginia Army National Guard
July 16, 2018 — Leadership of the Virginia Army National Guard transferred from Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer to Brig. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora during a ceremony presided over by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, July 14, 2018, at Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Mercer will retire after more than 35 years of military service, but he will continue to serve in a civilian position as the Chief Operating Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs... MORE

Gillis to command 329th Regional Support Group
July 14, 2018 — Col. Doyle Gillis, Jr. will take command of the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group from Col. K. Weedon Gallagher, according to an announcement made July 12, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

Flora to succeed Mercer as Assistant Adjutant General – Army
June 27, 2018 — Brig. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora will succeed Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer as the Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General – Army, according to an announcement made June 18, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Flora currently serves as Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives and will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin. Mercer will retire after more than 35 years of military service, but he will continue to serve as the Chief Operating Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs. A transfer of responsibility ceremony between Flora and Mercer is scheduled for July 14... MORE

Governor signs DMV drivers license veteran indicator bill
June 18, 2018 — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ceremonially signed House Bill 737 June 26, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia, authorizing the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to issue driver’s licenses, permits and identification cards displaying an indicator signifying that the holder is a veteran. Applicants must provide proof of veteran status. Delegate John J. McGuire introduced the bill, and it passed both houses of the General Assembly unanimously during the 2918 session... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldier charged by Virginia State Police
June 6, 2018 — The Virginia State Police arrested Virginia National Guard Soldier Joshua Philip Yabut, 29, of Richmond, Virginia, for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, and charged him with one felony count of eluding police and one felony count of unauthorized use of a vehicle. The charges come after he drove an M577 armored personnel carrier June 5, 2018, from Fort Pickett near Blackstone, Virginia, to Richmond, Virginia, where he stopped and surrendered to Virginia State Police. The incident remains under investigation by the VSP. He is being held in the Richmond City Jail... MORE

Bissell promoted to brigadier general, will command NATO headquarters in Sarajevo
June 4, 2018 — Col. Marti J. Bissell was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 2018, in Arlington, Virginia, and she will serve as the Commander and Senior Military Representative at North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters, Sarajevo. A transfer of authority ceremony is scheduled for July 9. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, the Chief of National Guard Bureau, officiated the promotion ceremony, and Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, administered the oath of office... MORE

DMA personnel complete Black Belt training
June 4, 2018 — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presented certificates to 12 Virginia Department of Military Affairs personnel who completed Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training May 18, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia. Along with 13 personnel who completed Green Belt training in March, this cadre of LSS practitioners will go to work looking at ways to improve efficiencies, reduce waste and increase readiness across the Virginia National Guard. LSS is a scientific method used for identifying waste and driving out variation in business processes. Four personnel from outside Virginia also completed the training... MORE

Camp Pendleton hosts National Guard Southeastern Region Inspector General workshop
May 30, 2018 — More than two dozen National Guard personnel from 12 different states and territories gathered for the National Guard Southeastern Region Inspector General workshop May 21-24, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach... MORE

Virginia’s fallen honored at Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony
May 28, 2018 — Virginians from all branches of the Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to the United States of America were remembered May 28, 2018, at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. Virginia. Ten Virginia National Guard Soldiers have been killed by hostile enemy action since Sept. 11, 2001, and they are among the more than 300 Virginians remembered on the Wall of Honor at the Memorial... MORE

Virginia National Guard cuts ribbon at new state headquarters
May 14, 2018 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, members of the Virginia Defense Force, friends and family members joined distinguished guests at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Virginia National Guard’s newly-built Joint Force Headquarters building May 14, 2018, at Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia. U.S. Senator Mark Warner, First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and Brig. Gen. Linda S. Hurry, commander of Defense Supply Center Richmond, joined Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Ferris, Virginia National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, in forming the official party who cut the ribbon on the new facility. The 102,000 square foot, $30 million building is the first structure purpose built to serve as a headquarters for the Virginia National Guard in its 411 year history... MORE

Epperly takes command of 29th Infantry Division
May 6, 2018 — Brig. Gen. John M. Epperly took command of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, Army National Guard, from Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner during a traditional change of command ceremony May 5, 2018, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, presided over the exchange of unit colors that represented the transfer of command from Ortner to Epperly... MORE

Ring to succeed Griffin as Director of the Joint Staff
May 1, 2018 — Col. James W. Ring has been named to succeed Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin as the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff and will be promoted to brigadier general, according to an announcement made May 1, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Griffin will transition to a traditional Guard status and retire later this year after more than 30 years of service. Ring currently serves as the Virginia Army National Guard Chief of Staff, and his effective date as the Director of the Joint Staff is May 5... MORE

Top Virginia National Guard units, individuals recognized at Virginia Military Ball
April 30, 2018 — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard for high levels of readiness at the second annual Virginia Military Ball April 28, 2018, in Norfolk, Virginia. Outstanding Soldiers and Airmen were also recognized at an awards reception before the ball, as were Army units earning the Excellence in Training award... MORE

First Lady, AG honor volunteers at annual Volunteer Training Workshop and Youth Symposium
April 18, 2018 — First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam joined Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, in honoring Virginia National Guard volunteers at the 2018 Virginia National Guard State Volunteer Recognition and Training Workshop April 15, 2018, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The annual two-day event recognizes and thanks volunteers for their efforts in support of family programs and includes training and information sessions on a variety of topics... MORE

Epperly to succeed Ortner as commander of 29th Infantry Division
April 5, 2018 — Brig. Gen. John M. Epperly will succeed Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner as the commander of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made April 5, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The assignment was effective April 5... MORE

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