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California National Guard#Adjutants General of California

{{Short description|Component of the US National Guard of the state of California}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = California National Guard

| image = CNG-logo.png

| image_size = 220px

| caption = Seal of the California National Guard

| dates = {{Start date|1849|07|27}}

| country = {{flagu|United States}}

| allegiance = {{Flag|California}}

| branch = {{Army|United States|size=23px}}
{{Air force|United States|size=23px}}

| type = National Guard

| role = Organized militia

| size = 24,000 (as of 2025)

| command_structure = National Guard Bureau
California Military Department

| garrison = 9800 Goethe Road, Sacramento, California 95827

| garrison_label = Headquarters

| nickname = CalGuard{{break}}CNG

| motto =

| colors =

| march =

| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the President of the United States.svg}} President of the United States (when federalized)

| commander1_label = Commander in Chief (Title 10 USC)

| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Governor of California.svg}} Governor of California

| commander2_label = Commander in Chief (Title 32 USC)

| commander3 = MG Matthew P. Beevers

| commander3_label = Adjutant General

| commander5 = CMSgt Lynn E. Williams

| commander5_label = Senior Enlisted Leader

}}

File:California National Guard at Camp Williams, Utah (2014).jpg military helicopter during training at Camp Williams, Utah in 2014]] The California National Guard (Cal Guard) is part of the National Guard of the United States, a dual federal–state military reserve force in the state of California. It has three components: the California Army National Guard, California Air National Guard, and California State Guard. As of 2025, the California National Guard comprises approximately 24,000 personnel, making it one of the largest National Guard forces in the United States.{{cite web |title=About CalGuard |url=https://calguard.ca.gov/about/ |website=California National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}

Since 2001, members of the California National Guard have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times. Thirty-one California Guardsmen have died while serving overseas in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Guantanamo Bay.{{cite web |title=California National Guard: Remembering the Fallen |url=https://calguard.ca.gov/fallen/ |website=California National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}{{cite news |last=Kovach |first=Gretel C. |title=S.D. National Guard Unit Preps For A Final Afghan Deployment |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/18/tp-sd-national-guard-unit-preps-for-a-final/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509122411/http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/18/tp-sd-national-guard-unit-preps-for-a-final/ |archive-date=May 9, 2015}}

The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When under the control of its state governor, National Guard functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the president or Congress.

When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the president serves as Commander-In-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise needed."

File:CalifNG,1924adj.jpg of the California National Guard arriving in Los Angeles, August 17, 1924]]

File: California National Guard MPs 1950.jpg

The governor of California may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or special situations. The state mission of the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."

Components

Military Museum Command

California State Guard's Military Museum Command interim state museum is Camp Roberts Historical Museum. militarymuseum.org is provided as a public service by the California Military Department.{{cite web |title=California State Military Museums Program |url=https://militarymuseum.org/ |website=militarymuseum.org |access-date=November 10, 2022}}

Adjutant General

Major General Matthew P. Beevers serves as the Adjutant General of California since he was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on August 1, 2022.

= Adjutants General of California =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Name !! Term start !! Term end !! Notes

Theron R. PerleeApril 12, 1850October 5, 1850
William H. RichardsonOctober 5, 1850May 2, 1852
William Chauncey KibbeMay 2, 1852April 30, 1864
Robert RobinsonJanuary 1, 1864May 1, 1864
George S. EvansMay 1, 1864May 1, 1868
James M. AllenMay 1, 1868November 23, 1870
Thomas N. CazneauNovember 23, 1870December 21, 1871
Lucius H. FooteDecember 21, 1871December 13, 1875
Patrick F. WalshDecember 13, 1875January 9, 1880
Samuel W. BackusJanuary 9, 1880July 1, 1882
George B. CrosbyJanuary 11, 1883November 1, 1887
Richard H. OrtonNovember 1, 1887January 9, 1891
Charles Carroll AllenJanuary 9, 1891May 24, 1895
Andrew W. BartlettMay 24, 1895December 23, 1898
Robert L. PeelerDecember 23, 1898June 1, 1899
William H. SeamansJune 1, 1899January 3, 1902Died in office
George StoneJanuary 13, 1902February 15, 1904
Joseph B. LauckFebruary 15, 1904January 7, 1911
Edwin A. ForbesJanuary 7, 1911June 18, 1915Died in office
Charles W. Thomas Jr.June 19, 1915December 15, 1916
James J. BorreeDecember 16, 1916November 30, 1923
Richard E. MittelstaedtDecember 1, 1923January 5, 1931Also served 1940–41
Seth E.P. HowardJanuary 6, 1931June 26, 1935Died in office
Paul ArndtJune 27, 1935October 17, 1935
Harry H. MooreheadOctober 18, 1935January 3, 1939
Patrick J.H. FarrellJanuary 4, 1939June 10, 1940
Richard E. MittelstaedtJune 10, 1940March 3, 1941Second term
Joseph O. DonovanMarch 3, 1941July 10, 1942
Junnius PierceJuly 14, 1942January 13, 1943
Ray W. HaysJanuary 14, 1943November 30, 1944
Victor R. HansenDecember 27, 1944April 28, 1946
Curtis D. O'SullivanApril 29, 1946July 15, 1951
Earl M. JonesJuly 16, 1951December 31, 1960
Roderic L. HillJanuary 1, 1961January 1, 1967
Glenn C. AmesMarch 22, 1967June 5, 1975
Frank J. SchoberJune 6, 1975December 31, 1982
Willard A. ShankJanuary 3, 1983February 13, 1987
Robert C. ThrasherFebruary 14, 1987October 9, 1992
Robert W. BarrowOctober 10, 1992December 31, 1992
Tandy K. BozemanJanuary 1, 1993April 27, 1999
Paul D. Monroe Jr.April 29, 1999March 2004
Thomas EresMarch 2004June 6, 2005
John AlexanderJune 7, 2005August 1, 2005
William H. Wade IISeptember 1, 2005February 1, 2010
Mary J. KightFebruary 2, 2010April 15, 2011
David S. BaldwinApril 16, 2011July 31, 2022
Matthew P. BeeversAugust 1, 2022Present

Military academy

The California National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo, which houses the state's Officer Candidate School (OCS) program. This academy trains qualified enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and civilians to become commissioned officers in the California Army National Guard.

Upon completion of Basic Combat Training (BCT), OCS cadets attend monthly drills for approximately 16 to 18 months, followed by a two-week annual training. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army National Guard.{{cite web |title=California Military Academy (OCS) |url=https://calguard.ca.gov/army/ocs/ |website=California National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}

{{cite web |title=Officer Candidate School (OCS) |url=https://www.nationalguard.com/lead-the-way/officer-candidate-school |website=National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • Hudson, James J. "The California National Guard: In the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906." California Historical Quarterly 55.2 (1976): 137–149. [https://militarymuseum.org/CNG1906.pdf online]

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20071214093845/http://www.history.army.mil/ARNG/NG-CA.htm Bibliography of California Army National Guard History] compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History
  • [http://www.calguard.ca.gov/OTAG/ Office of The Adjutant General]
  • [http://www.calguard.ca.gov/ California National Guard]
  • [https://stateguard.cmd.ca.gov/public/ California State Guard]
  • [http://www.militarymuseum.org/ California Military Museum]
  • [http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll4/id/597 California National Guard Photograph Collection] US Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

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Category:United States Army National Guard by state

National Guard

National Guard