36 Chiefs of the National Guard Bureau

The chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) is the highest-ranking officer of the United States National Guard and the head of the National Guard Bureau. The position is a statutory office, 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. In a separate capacity as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 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.

Edward D. Baca was a United States Army Lieutenant General who was the first Hispanic to serve as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Albert Hazen Blanding was a United States Army officer. Among the most distinguished military figures in Florida's history, he was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal.

H Steven Blum is a retired United States Army officer. Blum served as the 25th Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2003 to 2008. His last assignment before retiring was Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command, where he concurrently served as Vice Commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. He retired from the Army National Guard of the United States on May 21, 2010.

Jesse McIlvane Carter was a United States Army Major General who served as Chief of the Militia Bureau.

Lieutenant General John B. Conaway is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who served as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. from 1990 to 1993.

Kenneth F. Cramer was a United States Army major general who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Lieutenant General Russell C. Davis was a United States Air Force Lieutenant General who served as commander of the District of Columbia National Guard and Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Edgar C. Erickson was a United States Army Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Brigadier General Robert Kennon Evans was a United States Army officer who served in several high-profile assignments, including Chief of the National Guard Bureau and commander of the Hawaiian Department.

William Graham Everson was a Major General in the United States Army who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Raymond H. Fleming was a United States Army Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau, commander of the 39th Infantry Division, and Adjutant General of Louisiana.

Frank J. Grass is a United States Army general who served as the 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Major General Francis S. Greenlief was a major general in the United States Army. He served as the 18th Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Creed C. Hammond was a Major General in the United States Army. He served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

John W. Heavey was a United States Army brigadier general who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Daniel R. Hokanson is a four-star general in the United States Army who currently serves as the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau. Prior to that, he served as the 21st director of the Army National Guard. His previous military assignments include Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, deputy commander of United States Northern Command, adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard, and commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Just Cause. Hokanson assumed his current assignment on August 3, 2020.

George Emerson Leach was an American politician who served as a Major General in the United States Army and two-time Republican Mayor of Minneapolis.

Joseph Lauren Lengyel is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau from August 2016 to August 2020. As chief, he was responsible for ensuring that nearly 460,000 Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel are accessible, capable and ready to protect the homeland and to provide combat capabilities to the United States Army and the United States Air Force. Lengyel is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours primarily in the F-16.

William Abram Mann was a general officer in the United States Army. He served as the commander of the 17th Infantry Brigade in the Spanish–American War and the 42nd Division "The Rainbow Division") in World War I.

Donald Wilson McGowan was a United States Army Major General who served as commander of the 50th Armored Division and Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

George W. McIver was a United States Army Brigadier General who served as acting Chief of the Militia Bureau and commanded the 161st Infantry Brigade in World War I.

Craig Richard McKinley is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 26th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, serving from 2008 to 2012. He is the first officer from the National Guard to ever achieve the grade of a four-star general.

Albert Leopold Mills was a United States Army Major General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on July 1, 1898, near Santiago, Cuba. An 1879 graduate of West Point, he served in the Army until his death in 1916. Following his service in Cuba, he was appointed Superintendent of West Point, jumping in rank from First Lieutenant to Colonel. His final posting was as the Chief, Division of Militia Affairs, a precursor to the National Guard Bureau.

Butler Buchanan Miltonberger was a United States Army Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Ernest R. Redmond was a United States Army officer who served as acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Major General Raymond F. Rees is Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Training, Readiness and Mobilization. He was appointed to that position as a career member of the Senior Executive Service on February 10, 2014. He is a retired United States Army Major General who served as the Adjutant General of Oregon and was Director of the Army National Guard and acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

George C. Rickards was a United States Army major general who served as Chief of the Militia Bureau, the first National Guard officer to hold this position.

Earl T. Ricks was a senior officer of the Air National Guard of the United States who served as deputy chief of the National Guard Bureau and chief of the Air Force Division, National Guard Bureau (1950–1954) and acting chief of the National Guard Bureau. His four months as acting bureau chief made him the first Air National Guard officer to hold the position.

Lieutenant General Herbert R. Temple Jr. is a career military officer who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Emmett H. 'Mickey' Walker was a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who served as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 1982 to 1986.

Erasmus Morgan Weaver Jr. was a United States Army Major General who served as the first chief of the Militia Bureau and the Chief of the Army's Coast Artillery Corps.

La Vern E. Weber was a United States Army officer who served as Adjutant General of Oklahoma, Director of the Army National Guard and Chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB). He was the first NGB Chief to hold the rank of lieutenant general.

Herold J. Weiler was a United States Army officer who served as acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

John Francis Williams was an Army National Guard Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau during World War II.

Winston Peabody Wilson was a United States Air Force major general who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau.