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DETROIT (Aug. 25, 2024) — The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, Saturday received the Harry S. Truman Award for Distinguished Service in Support of National Defense, the National Guard Association of the United States’ most prestigious award. The Honorable Whitmer was presented with the Truman Award at the 146th NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.
“I am so excited to be here as governor of this great state and as commander-in-chief of the Michigan National Guard,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “There is no place better suited to hold this conference than Detroit — a city that matches the grit, collaboration, and commitment to defending America that drives the National Guard every day.
“It is an honor to receive the Harry S. Truman Award for Distinguished Service in Support of National Defense. We must keep working together to enhance the defense and security of the United States and make a difference in the lives of our service members, veterans, and their families,” added Gov. Whitmer.
The Truman Award recognizes individuals who have made “sustained contributions of exceptional and far-reaching magnitude to the defense and security of the United States in a manner worthy of recognition at the national level.” More on the award can be found at here.
Past recipients have included presidents, top elected officials and senior military leaders. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson (Ret.), the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau, was a co-recipient this year.
“As the leader of America’s ‘Arsenal of Democracy,’ Governor Whitmer has been a transformative leader for the defense and security of our service men and women. She is a prominent leader in fighting for service member benefits while ensuring the National Guard has modern equipment and facilities to prepare for future conflicts,” wrote Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general of Michigan, in nominating Gov. Whitmer for the honor.
Gov. Whitmer has offered strong and sustained advocacy on behalf of the Air National Guard fighting to “ensure all fighter squadrons are recapitalized without a loss in fighter capacity in the Air National Guard.” The governor has demonstrated ongoing commitment to homeland defense, interagency cooperation, and a strong defense overseas.
More than 4,200 National Guardsmen are registered to attend the association’s annual conference.
NGAUS: The association was created in 1878 to provide united Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on militia requirements. Today, 146 years later with more than 45,000 members nationwide, NGAUS has the same mission.
