Virginia National Guard

Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony honors Virginia’s fallen
May 27, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginians from all branches of the Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to their country were remembered at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial May 27, 2019, in Richmond. Virginia. Ten Virginia National Guard Soldiers have been killed by hostile enemy action since Sept. 11, 2001, and they... MORE

Adjutant General’s 2019 Memorial Day Message
May 26, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Each year on Memorial Day we remember the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the ideals of freedom we all cherish. I hope that each of you will pause at some point during the long weekend for a personal moment of silence to honor our fallen comrades... MORE

Virginia DMA honors state employees
May 23, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins, Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walter L. Mercer, Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, recognized and thanked DMA employees at a State Employee Recognition luncheon May 22, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. DMA previously conducted a State Employee Recognition luncheon May 9, 2019, at Fort Pickett... MORE

Ceremony celebrates 412th birthday of VNG, Jamestown
May 14, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Senior leaders from the office of Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs and members of the Virginia Army and Air National Guard cut a cake to celebrate the 412th birthday of the Virginia National Guard and Jamestown May 14, 2019, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The VNG traces the heritage and traditions of citizen service to the founding of Jamestown when Capt. John Smith organized the colonists for defense, and since May 14, 1607, there has not been a day without a military presence in Virginia to defend freedom at home and overseas... MORE

Lord promoted to brigadier general, moves into new role
May 14, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Toni M. Lord was promoted to brigadier general May 7, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced April 18, 2019, that Lord would be promoted and assume new duties as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air Strategic Initiatives... MORE

Top Virginia National Guard units recognized at Virginia Military Ball
April 29, 2019 — NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard and the 192nd Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard for high levels of readiness at the third annual Virginia Military Ball April 27, 2019, in Newport News, Virginia... MORE

Virginia Defense Force celebrates 35th anniversary
April 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Defense Force celebrated its 35th anniversary with a cake-cutting ceremony April 18, 2019, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. With historical roots dating back to World War I, the modern Virginia Defense Force was formally reestablished in 1984, and Virginia General Assembly Joint Resolution 864 commends the VDF on its 35th anniversary... MORE

VNG welcomes new command senior enlisted leader
April 10, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Command Chief Master Sgt. James J. Profita took responsibility as the Virginia National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader from Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Ferris April 7, 2019, in a ceremony at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, hosted the ceremony... MORE

Adjutant General sponsoring recruiting poster contest
March 28, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Adjutant General of Virginia is sponsoring a recruiting poster contest that is open to all Soldiers, Airmen and family members. The competition is for posters to be used for marketing to high school and college students, and six Virginia Army National Guard and two Air National Guard winners will be chosen. The Virginia National Guard is in need of state-specific marketing within high schools and colleges in order to generate leads to grow the force... MORE

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

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