Indianapolis: A Conference Primer

THE CONFERENCE

An Annual Tradition

There haven’t been 147 previous NGAUS conferences, but pretty close to it. The “148th” refers to the number of years since militia officers from across the nation established the association to provide a unified voice to petition Congress for more resources. They held their first formal conference the next year, but national meetings were sporadic early on, normally involving less than 100 senior officers. They grew larger and more regular after that, and there has been a NGAUS conference every year since 1943. The one anomaly was 2020, when the event was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Digital Version

THE HOST CITY

More than a sports town

Indianapolis is widely known and officially trademarked as the “Racing Capital of the World.” It hosts the Indianapolis 500, the largest single-day sporting event in the entire world, which regularly draws over 300,000 spectators. The city is also home to franchises in the NFL, NBA and WNBA, and earlier this year it hosted the men’s college basketball’s Final Four. But the capital of Indiana is more than a sports town. The city is second only to Washington, D.C., in its total number of war monuments and memorials. It’s also a premier conference city, with most of its major hotels connected via skywalks to the Indiana Convention Center and many bars, restaurants and other attractions just steps away. Late August weather in Indianapolis features warm days, cooler nights and a gradual transition out of peak summer heat. This is the first NGAUS conference to visit the city since 2001.

THE THEME

America’s Strength at Home & Abroad

The theme could work any year in the 21st Century, but it may be especially appropriate in 2026. This year has seen the National Guard assist local authorities respond to snowstorms, multiple floods and an especially destructive wildfire season. Meanwhile, Guard Soldiers and Airmen are augmenting the police in some cities, including the nation’s capital. The Guard has also been critical to worldwide operations. During Operation Epic Fury, the Air Guard orchestrated the largest and fastest deployment in its history — delivering combat-ready forces from 40 wings into the U.S. Central Command theater in a record eight days. The Army Guard was already there, with a division headquarters and multiple maneuver units supporting longstanding operations in the region.

SPECIAL GUESTS

A Vietnam-era unit gets its due

The Indiana National Guard’s Company D (Ranger), 151st Infantry — one of the most decorated infantry companies of the Vietnam War — will receive the Presidential Unit Citation during the conference. Several of the Indiana Rangers, now in their 80s, will appear at the conference to accept the honor. The Presidential Unit Citation is the U.S. military’s highest unit honor, awarded for extraordinary heroism, gallantry and determination under exceptionally difficult and hazardous combat conditions. During their one-year deployment, individual unit members earned more than 538 decorations, including 19 Silver Stars, one Soldier’s Medal, 123 Bronze Stars — 88 with “V” device for valor — 101 Purple Hearts, 111 Air Medals and 183 Army Commendation Medals. However, this is their first formal unit award.

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HEADLINERS

Featured speakers scheduled for the business and separate sessions

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun
First Business Session

Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind.
First Business Session

Air Force Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus
Chief, National Guard Bureau
First Business Session

SEA John T. Raines II
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the NGB chief
First Business Session

Army Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve
Acting Army Chief of Staff
First Business Session

Space Force Gen. Michael A. Guetlein
Director, Golden Dome
First Business Session

Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs
Director, Army National Guard
Army Separate Session

Air Force Maj. Gen Randal K. Efferson
Acting Director, Air National Guard
Air Separate Session

Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C.
Air Separate Session

Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C.
Air Separate Session

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BEYOND THE BUSINESS SESSIONS

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS 

Representatives from every state, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia will gather to review standing resolutions, draft resolutions and late or “emergency” resolutions. Deliberations are set to begin Aug. 28 and continue through Aug. 29. Approved resolutions, which are subject to a floor vote by conference delegates Aug. 31, will form the basis of next year’s NGAUS legislative action plan for deliberations on fiscal 2028 defense legislation.

COMPANY-GRADE OFFICER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The conference will once again provide OPD for company-grade officers. Changing Times: Defining the Guard’s Next Chapter is this year’s theme. Formal sessions, which begin the morning of Aug. 29, will include presentations by senior National Guard Bureau leaders. The agenda will also include CGOx — TEDx style talks — during which selected attendees will offer ideas for group discussions. In addition, there will also be a networking breakout and a former-CGO panel discussion on lessons learned.

INDUSTRY EXHIBITION

Expect another large trade show. More than 340 companies or organizations had purchased booths by Aug. 21. They include startups as well as some of the world’s largest defense contractors. An updated list is available on the conference app. The show opens at 10 a.m. Aug. 29 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The traditional complimentary brunch on the exhibit floor begins at 10:40 a.m. The NGAUS booth (No. 829) again will be near the middle of the show floor. This is where you can speak with NGAUS staff and purchase the 2026 National Guard Educational Foundation holiday ornament, which this year features part of the Air National Guard response to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.

SPOUSE ROUNDTABLE

The fourth annual information event for spouses — this year called the Spouse Roundtable — is set for the morning of Aug. 30 in Sagamore Ballroom 5 of the Indiana Convention Center. It will feature presentations on family issues and resiliency. Speakers include Shannon Nordhaus, the spouse of the National Guard Bureau chief, Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, and Julie Muennich, the spouse of the adjutant general of Wisconsin, Army Maj. Gen. Lawrence Muennich.

TASK FORCE MEETINGS

All 12 of the NGAUS task forces will meet Aug. 30. The task forces include subject matter experts in their military capacity related to Guard readiness, modernization and force structure. Meetings are open to all. Consult the official conference program or the conference app for exact times and locations.

ARMY & AIR SEPARATE SESSIONS

The separate sessions are set for the morning of Aug. 31. Both will feature presentations by senior leaders. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, the Army Guard director, headlines the Army breakout. The deputy commanders of the Army Transformation and Training Command and the Army Western Hemisphere Command are also on the agenda. The Air session features Maj. Gen. Randal K. Efferson, the acting Air Guard director, and a panel of drilling Air Guard officers in the U.S. House of Representatives.

ELECTIONS

All the elected officer positions of the NGAUS board of directors are up for election: chairman, vice chair-Army, vice-chair-Air, treasurer and secretary. Delegates will also select the three representatives (adjutant general, Army and Air) on the board for Areas II and V, and the Army company-grade and Army retired/separated reps. Final tallies are subject to ratification by a floor vote Aug. 31.

TOTAL AUTHORIZED DELEGATES

Alabama 23
Alaska 12
Arizona 15
Arkansas 35
California 17
Colorado 14
Connecticut 11
Delaware 14
District of Columbia 13
Florida 18
Georgia 37
Guam 8
Hawaii 25
Idaho 11
Illinois 28
Indiana 19
Iowa 18
Kansas 28
Kentucky 20
Louisiana 34
Maine 8
Maryland 18
Massachusetts 35
Michigan 17
Minnesota 27
Mississippi 52
Missouri 17
Montana 10
Nebraska 16
Nevada 20
New Hampshire 14
New Jersey 17
New Mexico 12
New York 27
North Carolina 27
North Dakota 18
Ohio 35
Oklahoma 18
Oregon 14
Pennsylvania 19
Puerto Rico 10
Rhode Island 9
South Carolina 35
South Dakota 21
Tennessee 52
Texas 18
Utah 24
Vermont 11
Virgin Islands 8
Virginia 21
Washington 17
West Virginia 14
Wisconsin 34
Wyoming 9

Total* 1,104

*Based on total NGAUS members in a state/territory and other criteria in the association bylaws.