The California National Guard (Cal Guard) is part of the National Guard of the United States, a dual federal–state military reserve force in the state of California. It has three components: the California Army National Guard, California Air National Guard, and California State Guard. As of 2025, the California National Guard comprises approximately 24,000 personnel, making it one of the largest National Guard forces in the United States.

Since 2001, members of the California National Guard have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times. Thirty-one California Guardsmen have died while serving overseas in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Guantanamo Bay.

The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When under the control of its state governor, National Guard functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the president or Congress.

When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the president serves as Commander-In-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise needed."

The governor of California may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or special situations. The state mission of the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."

2025 federal deployment and legal challenge

In June 2025, the California National Guard became the subject of a high-profile legal and political dispute when President Donald Trump issued a memorandum federalizing up to 4,000 Guard members and deploying approximately 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during protests following federal immigration raids. Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed the move, asserting that it exceeded presidential authority under Title 10 and was unnecessary given local law enforcement's control.

On June 9, the State of California filed suit in the Northern District of California, Newsom v. Trump, seeking to block the deployment via a temporary restraining order. The lawsuit contends the executive order violated 10 U.S.C. § 252, the Tenth Amendment, and the Posse Comitatus Act.

On June 12, 2025, Judge Charles Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco issued a 36-page ruling, returning control of the National Guardsmen back to Newsom. The second paragraph of the ruling reads:

Components California Army National Guard (CA ARNG) California Air National Guard (CA ANG) California State Guard (CSG)

Military Museum Command The California State Guard Military Museum Command’s interim state museum is Camp Roberts Historical Museum and is provided as a public service by the California Military Department.

Adjutant General Major General Matthew P. Beevers serves as the Adjutant General of California since he was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on August 1, 2022.

Adjutants General of California

Name Term start Term end Notes Theron R. Perlee April 12, 1850 October 5, 1850 William H. Richardson October 5, 1850 May 2, 1852 William Chauncey Kibbe May 2, 1852 April 30, 1864 Robert Robinson January 1, 1864 May 1, 1864 George S. Evans May 1, 1864 May 1, 1868 James M. Allen May 1, 1868 November 23, 1870 Thomas N. Cazneau November 23, 1870 December 21, 1871 Lucius H. Foote December 21, 1871 December 13, 1875 Patrick F. Walsh December 13, 1875 January 9, 1880 Samuel W. Backus January 9, 1880 July 1, 1882 George B. Crosby January 11, 1883 November 1, 1887 Richard H. Orton November 1, 1887 January 9, 1891 Charles Carroll Allen January 9, 1891 May 24, 1895 Andrew W. Bartlett May 24, 1895 December 23, 1898 Robert L. Peeler December 23, 1898 June 1, 1899 William H. Seamans June 1, 1899 January 3, 1902 Died in office George Stone January 13, 1902 February 15, 1904 Joseph B. Lauck February 15, 1904 January 7, 1911 Edwin A. Forbes January 7, 1911 June 18, 1915 Died in office Charles W. Thomas Jr. June 19, 1915 December 15, 1916 James J. Borree December 16, 1916 November 30, 1923 Richard E. Mittelstaedt December 1, 1923 January 5, 1931 Also served 1940–41 Seth E.P. Howard January 6, 1931 June 26, 1935 Died in office Paul Arndt June 27, 1935 October 17, 1935 Harry H. Moorehead October 18, 1935 January 3, 1939 Patrick J.H. Farrell January 4, 1939 June 10, 1940 Richard E. Mittelstaedt June 10, 1940 March 3, 1941 Second term Joseph O. Donovan March 3, 1941 July 10, 1942 Junnius Pierce July 14, 1942 January 13, 1943 Ray W. Hays January 14, 1943 November 30, 1944 Victor R. Hansen December 27, 1944 April 28, 1946 Curtis D. O'Sullivan April 29, 1946 July 15, 1951 Earl M. Jones July 16, 1951 December 31, 1960 Roderic L. Hill January 1, 1961 January 1, 1967 Glenn C. Ames March 22, 1967 June 5, 1975 Frank J. Schober June 6, 1975 December 31, 1982 Willard A. Shank January 3, 1983 February 13, 1987 Robert C. Thrasher February 14, 1987 October 9, 1992 Robert W. Barrow October 10, 1992 December 31, 1992 Tandy K. Bozeman January 1, 1993 April 27, 1999 Paul D. Monroe Jr. April 29, 1999 March 2004 Thomas Eres March 2004 June 6, 2005 John Alexander June 7, 2005 August 1, 2005 William H. Wade II September 1, 2005 February 1, 2010 Mary J. Kight February 2, 2010 April 15, 2011 David S. Baldwin April 16, 2011 July 31, 2022 Matthew P. Beevers August 1, 2022 Present

Military academy The California National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo, which houses the state's Officer Candidate School (OCS) program. This academy trains qualified enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and civilians to become commissioned officers in the California Army National Guard.

Upon completion of Basic Combat Training (BCT), OCS cadets attend monthly drills for approximately 16 to 18 months, followed by a two-week annual training. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army National Guard.

Accidents and incidents

In 1995, Shawn Nelson, a former US Army officer, entered a California National Guard armory undetected. He was able to start one of the tanks and he drove it around the streets of San Diego. After the incident, the San Diego mayor wrote a letter to the California Governor demanding an investigation into armory security.

See also List of California State Militia Units 1850–60 List of California State Militia civil war units California Military Department California State Guard California during World War II

References

Further reading Hudson, James J. "The California National Guard: In the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906." California Historical Quarterly 55.2 (1976): 137–149. online

External links Bibliography of California Army National Guard History compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History Office of The Adjutant General California National Guard California State Guard California Military Museum California National Guard Photograph Collection US Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania