Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Danner elected Board Member of NGAUS

By Nancy K. Lane
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The National Guard Association of the United States recently held their 132nd general conference in Austin, Texas.

NGUAS is an organization that provides states and Guard members unified representation before Congress. It seeks modern equipment, training, missions and personnel benefits for the Army and Air National Guard by lobbying Congress and the Executive Branch. Commissioned officers and warrant officers of the Army and Air National Guard are eligible for membership.

Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, was elected as a board member from Area IV of the association and will serve as the adjutant general representative. His term expires in 2013.

Area IV is comprised of the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Also elected board members from Area IV were Lt. Col. Martin Fries of Kansas to represent the Army National Guard and Lt. Col. Tony DeJesus of Kansas to represent the Air National Guard.

Danner's election to the NGAUS board reflects not only upon his contributions to the National Guard, but also allows for the opportunity to bring the spotlight to the Missouri National Guard.

"I'm proud to have been elected to this position with the National Guard Association," Danner said. "This will be an opportunity for me to get the word out about the great things we've been doing here in Missouri - like Gov. Jay Nixon's Show-Me Heroes jobs program - and to find out what some of our peers in other states are doing as well."

Lt. Col Michael J. Fayette, president of the Missouri National Guard Association said Danner's election means a great deal to the Missouri National Guard and the Missouri National Guard Association.

"This role allows us a national platform to discuss the issues that face the 12,000 Soldiers and Airmen that serve our state and nation, their Families, and the thousands of our Guard retirees and their Families - as well as the other states that encompass NGAUS Area IV."

The bottom line is that Missouri and America win when our Association and the organization win.

"Danner's role will be to represent all of us, and through his leadership, influence positive outcomes that result in maintaining and perhaps growing service member benefits, equipment increases and modernization, and mission support to our Guard," Fayette said. "These things equate to better, more effective, and more efficient responses to both domestic and overseas crisis in support of the Governor and the President."



For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.