Daniel Ripley, a former Virginia Defense Force chaplain, formally swears in and is commissioned a first lieutenant in the Virginia Army National Guard Oct. 29, 2025, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Will Cochrane, the VNG deputy full-time support chaplain, swore in Ripley, making him the first chaplain to join the VaARNG ranks directly from the VDF. Col. Seung Lee, Virginia Army National Guard state chaplain, and Ripley’s family were in attendance for the brief ceremony.