News Release

D.C. National Guard Welcomes Seventh Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO)
October 23, 2025 — The District of Columbia National Guard welcomed its seventh Command Chief Warrant Officer, CW5 Robert Gibson, Sr., assumed responsibility from CW5 Bernard Aguon during a change of responsibility ceremony held at the D.C. Armory. He most recently served as the State Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Florida National Guard... MORE

Leadership of District of Columbia National Guard and the U.S. Marshals Service Mark 60 Days of Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Operations
October 11, 2025 — Leadership of District of Columbia National Guard and the U.S. Marshals Service inform the public of the many accomplishments after 60 days of operations in the D.C. area, Washington D.C. Oct. 11th, 2025. Approximately 2,300 National Guard members support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work and visit the District... MORE

National Guard Duo Reunite Lost Child With Parents at Washington Monument
October 8, 2025 — A routine patrol near the Washington Monument turned into a moment of human connection on Oct. 6, when two National Guard Airmen helped reunite a lost child with his parents amid the bustling crowds of the National Mall. Guardsmen have helped reunite six children with their families since the start of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman Devontae Taylor, left, and Tech. Sgt. Richard Kramer, Airmen with the 172nd Airlift Wing, Mississippi National Guard, with the 112th Military Police Battalion, Mississippi National Guard, Task Force Magnolia, recovered a lost child, center left, near the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C., Oct. 6, 2025. About 2,300 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work and visit the District.

Task Force Beautification Marks 100 Projects, Unveils New Strategy for Safer DC
October 3, 2025 — Task Force Beautification, a D.C. National Guard initiative, has completed its 100th project, revitalizing a recreation center in Ward 7, officials said. The initiative aims to improve public safety and empower communities by addressing the root causes of crime. The task force operates under a framework of resilience, opportunity, and community... MORE

A U.S. Soldier with the District of Columbia Army National Guard rakes mulch during an area beautification mission in Washington, D.C., Sept. 4, 2025. About 2,300 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work, and visit the District.

DMV Law Enforcement Career Fair promo
September 24, 2025 — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the D.C. National Guard, and Chief Pamela A. Smith, Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department, discuss the DMV Law Enforcement Career Fair at MPD Academy, 4665 Blue Plains Drive SW, Washington, DC, 20032. The multi-agency recruiting event on Sept. 27, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. is hosted by the Metropolitan Police Department Recruiting Unit and will include over 27 federal and local law enforcement agencies... MORE

D.C. National Guard Commanding General receives familiarization flight in an F-16D
September 20, 2025 — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the D.C. National Guard, receives his first familiarization flight in a 113th Wing, D.C. Air National Guard F-16D Fighting Falcon on Joint Base Andrews, Sep. 19, 2025. The aircraft was flown by Maj. Benjamin Saunders, pilot, 113th Wing Operations Group. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the 113th Wing's Aerospace Control Alert (ACA) mission has protected the skies 24/7 above the National Capital Region... MORE

TF Beautification teams with Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) in the District’s Ward 8
September 16, 2025 — Soldiers and Airmen from the D.C. National Guard worked shoulder to shoulder with Ward 8 residents, volunteers and local leaders on Sept. 13 , marking Task Force Beautification’s first-ever participation in a neighborhood cleanup effort in the District... MORE

Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the D.C. National Guard, and members of Task Force Beautification join Ward 8 residents, volunteers, and 8B06 Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) members for a pop-up community clean-up in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2025. The effort, led by ANC Commissioner Marcus “Mick” Hickman, marked the first time D.C. National Guard members worked alongside residents and elected officials in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission in providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work and visit the District. Many of the participating Guard members live and work in the District, strengthening their shared commitment to keeping local neighborhoods safe and clean.

Tennessee, D.C. National Guard mechanics partner for D.C. Safe and Beautiful
September 9, 2025 — D.C. National Guard mechanics have teamed with their Tennessee counterparts to ensuring vehicles remain at peak performance for any upcoming missions in the nation’s capital. The joint effort began when Tennessee’s mechanics answered D.C. National Guard’s request for support to repair a backlog of vehicles out of service. They divided their teams to maintain their own fleet and simultaneously completed work orders for D.C. vehicles. Combined, the two teams expect to bring more than 50 vehicles back into service... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Josiah Davenport, assigned to the 269th Military Police Company, Tennessee National Guard conducts maintenance on a vehicle at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., Aug. 30, 2025. About 2,300 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work and visit the District.

Suicide Prevention Month: Message from the Commanding General
September 7, 2025 — September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the Department of War is committed to decisive and innovative actions and the theme "Joining Your Fight: Connect to Protect." Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) for the D.C. National Guard, discusses the significance of knowing at-risk behaviors, stress reduction measures and available resources to help... MORE

State CCWO Aguon selected as the Army Guard’s Ninth Command Chief Warrant Officer
August 31, 2025 — Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bernard Aguon, who has served as the State Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) for the District of Columbia National Guard since 2024, has been selected as the next Army National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer at the National Guard Bureau. He will succeed Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Searcy... MORE

CW5 Bernard L. Aguon, State Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) for the District of Columbia National Guard has been selected as the ninth Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Army National Guard and will serve as the principal military advisor to the Director of the Army National Guard on all matters affecting warrant officer training, utilization, health of the force, and professional development. Currently, CW5 Aguon is the D.C. National Guard's sixth State CCWO and advisor to the D.C. National Guard’s Commanding General, the Adjutant General, and Land Component Commander. He will succeed Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Searcy.