The Adjutant General of Minnesota is the commander of the Minnesota National Guard which includes the Minnesota Army National Guard, the Minnesota Air National Guard, and, when active, the Minnesota State Guard and Minnesota Naval Militia. The Adjutant General (or 'TAG') is responsible for all state non-federalized military and state defense forces, and reports directly to the Governor of Minnesota. Minnesota's TAG is appointed by the governor and currently serves a single term of seven years.
Appointment According to Minnesota Statute §190.07, the Adjutant General must at the minimum hold the rank of Colonel (O-6) or higher with no less than 10 years of service. The Adjutant General must be appointed by the Governor of Minnesota within 120 days of a vacancy of the position. The statute also states that the Adjutant General "shall be promoted, if necessary, directly to and shall hold the rank of major general. If not already a major general, the adjutant general's promotion is effective beginning on the date the governor appoints the adjutant general. At the time of appointment and in accordance with the authorities governing federal recognition of officers, the adjutant general is authorized to wear the rank of major general".
There have been 31 people who have served as Adjutant General of Minnesota, one of whom, Horatio P. Van Cleve, served two nonconsecutive terms. The longest-serving Adjutant General of Minnesota was Major General Ellard A. Walsh of the 34th Infantry Division, who served for a total of 22 years from July 1, 1927 to October 2, 1949.
List of Adjutants General of Minnesota The following have served as Adjutant General of Minnesota Territory: No.ImageNameFrom dateAppointed by (Governor)Served until1James McClellan BoalMay 1849Alexander Ramsey18522 Sylvanus B. Lowry1852Alexander Ramsey18533 Isaac Van EttenMay 1853Willis A. GormanMay 1858 The following have served as Adjutant General of Minnesota: +No.ImageNameFrom DateAppointed by (Governor)Served until4 Alexander C. Jones1858Henry Hastings SibleyApril 13, 18605 William Henry AckerApril 13, 1860Alexander RamseyApril 24, 18616 John B. SanbornApril 24, 1861Alexander RamseyDecember 31, 18617Oscar MalmrosDecember 31, 1861Alexander RamseyMay 15, 18658John PellerMay 15, 1865 Stephen MillerJanuary 22, 18669 Horatio P. Van CleveJanuary 22, 1866William Rainey MarshallMarch 4, 187010 Mark Delos FlowerMarch 4, 1870Horace AustinNovember 1, 187511 Henry A. CastleNovember 1, 1875Cushman Kellogg DavisMarch 1, 187612 Horatio P. Van CleveMarch 1, 1876John S. PillsburyJune 1, 188213Alfred Clark HawleyJune 1, 1882Lucius Frederick HubbardJanuary 7, 188414Charles M. McCarthyJanuary 7, 1884Lucius Frederick HubbardJanuary 8, 188715 Francis Webb SeeleyJanuary 8, 1887Andrew Ryan McGillJanuary 22, 188916 John H. MullenJanuary 22, 1889William Rush MerriamJanuary 29, 189317 Herman MuehlbergJanuary 29, 1893Knute NelsonJanuary 16, 189918George C. LambertJanuary 17, 1899John Lind January 27, 190119 Elias David Libbey January 28, 1901Samuel Rinnah Van Sant January 27, 190520 Fred B. Wood January 28, 1905John Albert JohnsonAugust 31, 191721 Walter Fred RhinowSeptember 1, 1917Joseph A. A. BurnquistJune 30, 192722 Ellard A. WalshJuly 1, 1927Theodore ChristiansonOctober 2, 194923Joseph C. NelsonOctober 2, 1949Luther YoungdahlDecember 30, 196024Chester James MoegleinJanuary 16, 1961Elmer L. AndersenMay 9, 197525 James G. SiebenMay 10, 1975Wendell R. AndersonApril 30, 198826Robert W. SchaumannMay 1, 1988Rudy PerpichJune 19, 198827Eugene R. AndreottiJune 20, 1988Rudy PerpichAugust 8, 200328 Harry A. SiebenAugust 9, 2003Tim PawlentyOctober 31, 200329 Larry W. ShellitoNovember 1, 2003Tim PawlentyOctober 31, 201030 Richard C. NashNovember 1, 2010Tim PawlentyOctober 31, 201731 Jon A. JensenNovember 1, 2017Mark DaytonAugust 10, 202032 Shawn P. MankeAugust 20, 2020Tim WalzIncumbent
See also Politics of Minnesota Minnesota State Cabinet Minnesota Army National Guard Minnesota National Guard Minnesota Air National Guard List of Minnesota National Guard Units
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