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General Frank J. Grass, USA (ret.) served as the 27th Chief, National Guard Bureau and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from September of 2012 to August 2016. In this capacity, he served as a military adviser to the President, Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and was the Department of Defense’s official channel of communications to theGovernors and State Adjutants General on all matters pertaining to the National Guard. He was responsible for ensuring that the more than 450,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel were accessible, capable and ready to protect the homeland and to provide combat forces to the Army and Air Force.

Prior to his assignment as the 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau General Grass served as Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command and Vice Commander of United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command (USELEMNORAD) at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. As Deputy Commander, United States NorthernCommand, General Grass helped lead the command to anticipate, prepare and respond to threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility and as directedby the President or Secretary of Defense, and provide Defense Support of Civil Authorities, including consequence management operations.

General Grass enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969. He attended the Missouri Army National Guard Military Academy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in the Engineer Corps in 1981. He served in a variety of command and staff positions as a traditional National Guard Soldier, in the Active Guard and Reserve program, and on active duty. In his first general officer assignment, he served as Deputy Director of the Army National Guard in Arlington, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Metropolitan State University, Master of Science Degree from Missouri State University, and a Master of Science Degree from the National Defense University. General Grass retired on 1 September 2016 after nearly 47 years as a Soldier.

Dr. Jeb Nadaner is the JINSA Vice President of Defense & Government Affairs. He has served as the Director of the USMC Krulak Center for Innovation & Creativity; Lockheed Martin Vice President of Engineering & Technology and Director of Strategy & Business Development; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; Senior Advisor & Member of the State Department Policy Planning Staff; and Justice Department Attorney. Yale awarded him his PhD and the University of Pennsylvania his JD.