NGAUS Conference Report

The 144th NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition was held August 26-29, 2022, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. A Texas delegation of 34 represented NGAT during the multiple day event. Speakers included General James C. McConville, Army Chief of Staff; General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff; and General Daniel R. Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau; to name a few.

During the conference WO1 Timothy Steward, a member of the 176th Engineer Brigade, delivered the Texas Roll Call at the opening session. CW4 (Ret) Terri Marshall was selected to serve a 3-year term as the NGAUS Area IV Warrant Officer Representative. At the Air Separate Session, Col Hector Camacho, Commander of the 147th Attack Wing, accepted the Mission Support Trophy on behalf of the Wing. Maj Paula Palacios agreed to serve an additional year in support of the NGAUS Company Grade Committee.

COL Paul Cerniauskas and Capt Nate Norton, who spearheaded the NGAT Resolutions Committee for the Army and Air, were successful in getting several resolutions passed that Texas was a co-sponsor on. A resolution is a legislative idea that a member or state would like NGAT to work on. If it is a state issue, NGAT works with the Texas State Legislature. For Federal issues, NGAT works with NGAUS or EANGUS to help ensure our voices are heard. As memberbased organizations, NGAT, NGAUS and EANGUS solicit proposed resolutions from its membership aimed at enhancing the National Guard, its equipment, capabilities, and the quality of life for Soldiers, Airmen and their families. Contact the Resolutions committee at resolutions@ ngat.org to submit ideas that benefit Texas National Guard members, their families or retirees.

The exhibition of military product, vendors and sponsors was the largest in over 10 years and showcased the newest technology and services available to service members and their families. The conference ended with a Tailgate Party for the States Dinner with everyone wearing jerseys from their favorite sports teams, eating dinner family style, and being entertained by the Ohio State Cheerleaders and an array of Mascots from various Ohio sports teams. H

Thank you to our NGAUS Hospitality Sponsors

NGAT ATTENDEES AT THE NGAUS CONFERENCE proudly wear their favorite sports teams colors at the NGAUS States Dinner in Columbus, Ohio.

Mark your calendar and make plans to join us at the 145th NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition, August 18-21, 2023, in Reno, Nevada. Watch the website for additional information. Registration will open in late April 2023.

LT GEN MICHAEL A. LOH (LEFT), Director of the Air National Guard; Maj Gen Ondra L. Berry (right), Adjutant General for the State of Nevada; present Col Hector Camacho (center), Commander of the 147th Attack Wing in Houston, Texas; with the Mission Support Trophy. In 1984, various mission trophies were consolidated into a mission support group. The Mission Support Trophy is the equivalent of the Spaatz Trophy and is for nonflying units. Each competing unit is judged based on its overall operational readiness during the reporting year as well as its performance in relation to all other Air National Guard nonflying units. Selection is based on such criteria as operational readiness inspection, special missions, deployments, exercises, outstanding accomplishments, unit manning levels, attendance, retention and skill level

qualification. (Photo courtesy of NGAUS)

WO1 TIMOTHY STEWART, a member of the 176th Engineer Brigade, delivers the Texas Roll Call at the NGAUS Conference opening session in Columbus, Ohio. NGAT MEMBERS display their Aggie Pride prior to the NGAUS States Dinner. L-R: MG (Ret) James K. “Red” Brown, former Commander of the 36th Infantry Division; MAJ Christopher McKeag, NGAT President; and CSM (Ret) John F. Sampa, 12th Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard. Mrs. Nancy Tressa, spouse of COL (Ret) Paul Tressa, displays the goodie basket she won at the NGAUS Spouses Luncheon that featured guest speaker Jeni Britton Bauer, founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.