Lieutenant General Daniel Hokanson took the reins as director of the Army National Guard in a ceremony in Arlington, Virginia. He served as the NGB's vice chief prior to taking on his new duties as director of the Army Guard. Hokanson served in the active component as a helicopter pilot and took on a variety of leadership roles before transitioning to the Oregon Army National Guard in 1995. "[He is] an academy graduate, deployed to Panama, deployed to Iraq, led a brigade in Iraq, lead a brigade in Afghanistan. He's done all that and had the strategic jobs," Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, who hosted the ceremony.
I want to personally thank you for allowing me to serve as the 21st director of the Army National Guard and for all I have learned from you over the past three-and-a-half years as your vice," Hokanson said during the ceremony. "I am sincerely humbled by this incredible opportunity and look forward to continuing to serve the Soldiers, civilians and families of our Army National Guard."
"With all the changes nearly four centuries have brought with them, what has made the National Guard great remains the same -- that's our people," Hokanson said, adding that close to 30,000 Army Guard Soldiers are currently deployed worldwide. "Nearly 5000 more are directly supporting homeland defense and emergency response missions [ at home]," he said. "Our units compose 39 percent of the Army's operational force and we'll continue to engage across the full spectrum, performing our missions of homeland defense, [supporting the] warfight and building partnerships."
To our leaders and commanders at every level, thank you," he said. "Your leadership and dedication, your selfless service directly contributes to our readiness and lethality and ensures mission success." Read more.