| Chief of the National Guard Bureau | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the National Guard Bureau | |
 Flag of the Chief | |
 | |
| National Guard Bureau | |
| Abbreviation | CNGB |
| Member of | Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| Reports to | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| Nominator | President |
| Appointer | Senate |
| Term length | 4 years Renewable |
| Constituting instrument | 10 U.S.C. § 10502 |
| Formation | 14 February 1908 |
| First holder | COL Erasmus M. Weaver Jr. |
| Deputy | Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau |
| Website | Official Website |
The chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) is the highest-ranking officer of the National Guard and the head of the National Guard Bureau.[1] The position is a statutory office (10 U.S.C. § 10502), held by a federally recognized commissioned officer who has served at least 10 years of federally recognized active duty in the National Guard; the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard.[2] In a separate capacity as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (10 U.S.C. § 151), the chief is a military adviser to the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the president on matters pertaining to the National Guard.[3]
The chief is nominated for appointment by the president from any eligible National Guard officers holding the rank of major general or above,[4] who also meets the requirements for the position as determined by defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,[4] under the advice and/or recommendation from their respective state governors and their service secretary. The chief and vice chief of the National Guard Bureau cannot be from the same service.[5] The nominee must be confirmed via majority vote from the Senate.[4] The chief serves a four-year term of office at the pleasure of the President.[4] By statute, the Chief is appointed as a four-star general[4] in the Army or Air Force, serving as a reserve officer on active duty.[4]
The current Chief of the National Guard Bureau is General Steven Nordhaus, who assumed command on 2 October 2024.[6]
- ^ "10 USC 10502 Chief of the National Guard Bureau: appointment; adviser on National Guard matters; grade; succession". Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ U.S. Congress (28 January 2008). "Public Law 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008". GPO.gov. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Publishing Office.
- ^ United States Congress (2008). "SEC. 1812. Establishment of National Guard Bureau as Joint Activity of the Department of Defense". H.R. 4986 (110th): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. govtrack. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Public Law 110-181.
- ^ "10 U.S. Code § 10505 - Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "General Steven S. Nordhaus". National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 9 October 2024.