Sanders Appoints Colonel Chad Bridges as Secretary of the Military and the 55th Adjutant General

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced that she has appointed Colonel Olen Chad Bridges to serve as Arkansas’ Secretary of the Military and the 55th Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard. 

“Arkansas’ National Guard are the finest our state has to offer, and there’s no one better prepared to lead them than Colonel Chad Bridges,” said Governor Sanders. “Throughout his 32-year military career that includes leading Arkansas’ soldiers in three overseas deployments, Colonel Bridges has led troops in the Middle East, served several important assignments in the Pentagon, and been a loyal public servant to our state and nation. I know he will excel as Adjutant General and ensure our men and women in uniform are ready to support the great state of Arkansas and the entire country.”

“I am profoundly honored and deeply grateful to Governor Sanders for the extraordinary opportunity to join her cabinet and serve as the Secretary of the Military and the 55th Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard,” said Colonel Chad Bridges. “As a proud Arkansan, leading the exceptional men and women of the Arkansas National Guard in our mission to serve our state and nation is a lifetime privilege. I acknowledge our servicemembers’ families and employers whose support and sacrifice enable our mission success. We will continue to make the great state of Arkansas proud by upholding the highest standards of service and commitment to our state and nation.”

Colonel Chad Bridges Bio:
Colonel Bridges enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard in August of 1991 and commissioned in August of 1998. He assumed command of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in September 2021, leading the brigade headquarters’ deployment to Grafenwoehr, Germany. 

Colonel Chad Bridges (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Stephen Wright)

Colonel Bridges’ three previous assignments before brigade command were in the Pentagon. He was the Chief of the National Guard Bureau’s representative on the 2022 National Defense Strategy Core Development Team. Before that, he served in colonel assignments in the Office of Secretary of Defense and Headquarters Department of the Army. Colonel Bridges has served in various other national, state, and tactical level assignments as a full-time Active Guard Reserve officer since 2006.  

He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, U.S. Army Command and Staff College, U.S. Air Force Command and Staff College, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. In 2017, he completed the United States Army War College as a distinguished graduate obtaining a Master of Strategic Studies degree.

He is an MIT Seminar XXI fellow, a Harvard Kennedy School fellow for Leadership in Homeland Security, and a Syracuse University Maxwell School National Security Studies fellow. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Defense Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Combat and Expert Infantryman Badges, and various other awards and badges.

Most importantly, Colonel Bridges is married to the former Kari Zaccanti of Fayetteville, Arkansas. They reside in Conway, Arkansas with their two children: Carsten and Chloe.

Gov. Sanders opposes DOD's proposal to weaken states' powers over National Guard

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

In a letter to the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the National Governors Association expressed their displeasure with the department’s proposed legislation to Congress to weaken the authority that governors have over the National Guard.

Fifty-three governors from the states and U.S territories signed onto the letter. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders was among the governors to sign onto the letter. The letter explains that this proposal would make it more difficult for governors to respond to crises. Last year, Sanders activated the Arkansas National Guard to help local officials respond to the tornado in Central Arkansas. She also deployed the National Guard to the Southern Border.

Gov. Sanders opposes DOD's proposal to weaken states' powers over National Guard

Arkansas National Guard

Gov. Sanders sending 80 from Arkansas National Guard to Texas-Mexico border

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Thursday (June 1) that she is directing about 80 soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard to the Texas-Mexico border.

Blaming the Biden administration’s recent halt of Title 42, Sanders said the guardsmen will support the Texas National Guard in border control efforts during the month of July.

Title 42 is a policy started during the COVID-19 pandemic by former President Donald Trump and kept in place until May by President Joe Biden. It curtailed rights for petition for asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/06/gov-sanders-sending-80-from-arkansas-national-guard-to-texas-mexico-border/

Sanders Appoints Jeff Long as Director of Arkansas Crime Information Center

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center. 
 
“Today, I am proud to be appointing Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Sanders said. “His impressive, extensive public service career with 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement will be a tremendous asset in working with our top-notch team at the Department of Public Safety to keep our state safe and secure with reliable, up-to-date crime data.”
 
“I am humbled by the Governor’s confidence in me to lead the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Long said. “I have dedicated my career to protecting Arkansans and Americans from harm, fully equipping me to serve the people of Arkansas in this capacity and support law enforcement agencies with timely, accurate information. Both Governor Sanders’ and Colonel Mike Hagar’s strong, tough on crime leadership is exactly what our state needs to reduce violent crime, and I look forward to working together as we empower all Arkansans with a safer, stronger state.”
 
Jeff Long Bio:
 
Jeff Long began his public service by joining the Arkansas National Guard in 1982 while still a junior in high school. He later transferred to the Army Reserves, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. During his service, he served in various leadership roles. He was a Platoon Sergeant for a HAZ MAT response and served on the Quick Reactionary Force Team in Bagdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
 
After deployment, he served as Regional Area Manager for the 4th Battalion of the 95th Division instructor group. His mission assignment was teaching Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) advanced and senior leadership courses at U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Sergeant Major Long retired from the Army Reserves in 2019 after 36 years of service. 
 
Director Long started his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Russellville Police Department. While there, he served as a training instructor, field training officer, and a member of the SWAT team. 
 
Director Long joined the ranks of the Arkansas State Police in 1997 with his first assignment in Highway Patrol, Troop A. He later became a member of the Honor Guard and transferred to the Executive Protection Division. While he was with the Executive Protection Division he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served as Assistant Detail Commander.    
 
Director Long’s public service career includes 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement. He is a graduate of the U.S Army Sergeants Majors Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, School of Law Enforcement and Supervision. 
 
Director Long is a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville. He has been married to his wife, Cindy, for 33 years. The couple have beautiful twin daughters.

Gov.-elect Sanders selects Stubbs, Penn to top state military posts

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Wednesday (Jan. 4) her intention to nominate Brigadier General Jon Stubbs as Secretary of the Military and The Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, and Major General Kendall Penn as the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Penn now holds the title of Secretary of the Military, while he will replace Nate Todd, the Veterans Affairs secretary.

“I will be appointing two high-caliber individuals with decades of military experience who will lead with honor and integrity – BG Jon Stubbs as The Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard and Major General Kendall Penn as the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Sanders said. “BG Stubbs’ extensive Army National Guard experience makes him a clear choice to lead the Department of Military as The Adjutant General, ensuring our airmen and soldiers are standing at the ready to support the state of Arkansas and our nation. Major General Penn has done an excellent job leading our Department of Military, which is why I have asked him to continue to serve and take on the critical role of Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Together, we will ensure that the brave, selfless men and women who have served our country in uniform are always cared for and supported.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/gov-elect-sanders-selects-stubbs-penn-to-top-state-military-posts/

Arkansas COVID cases set new records

KUAR | By Michael Tilley/ Talk Business & Politics

With a record daily rise in COVID-19 cases and a record for active cases, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday he is activating an additional 50 National Guard members to help with testing and is encouraging school administrators to consider requiring mask use.

The governor also said in his weekly press briefing that the state’s health system is “facing a new set of challenges” because of the higher rate of transmissibility with the Omicron variant. The rise in cases not only reduces hospital bed capacity but in some cases creates staffing challenges with rising infection among health care workers.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) on Tuesday reported a record 6,562 new COVID cases in the previous 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 581,134. Active cases rose by 5,118 to a record 32,280.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-01-04/arkansas-covid-cases-set-new-records

Chris Banks/KUAR News

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, seen here speaking to reporters last May, announced Tuesday the state had 6,562 new cases of people testing positive for COVID-19.

AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Firsthand Perspective from the Southern Border

LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about my recent trip to the southern border of Texas. General Kendall Penn, Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, joined me for a visit with members of the Arkansas National Guard who are in Texas to support Operation Lone Star. They are doing a fantastic job for our state and nation. We also went on a fast boat inspection of the Rio Grande River and received a briefing from the chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in the Rio Grande sector. 

The issues at the border are familiar to me. When President Bush appointed me as Undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, one of my tasks was to oversee security of our southern border. The problems were challenges 20 years ago. But the current number of illegal crossings and apprehensions, the volume of illegal drugs seized, and the human trafficking are far worse than we’ve ever seen, especially in Texas.

Under Operation Lone Star, there have been nearly 7,000 arrests and nearly 150,000 illegal aliens that have been apprehended and referred to federal immigration authorities. And then Border Patrol apprehensions and seizures are on top of those numbers.

We have a crisis at the border. It is a humanitarian crisis, a border-security crisis, and a public health crisis all rolled into a national security threat. It’s never been worse than it is right now. Any time you have migrants coming across our border from scores of countries, waiting for the right moment and then successfully coming in, this is not a closed border.

Until January, U.S. border policy had controlled the flow of illegal crossings and drugs. But those policies were reversed, and that puts all of us at risk, especially those who live along the border in Texas and Arizona. We must change our policy in order to regain control.

I was one of 26 governors who signed a letter requesting a meeting with President Biden to discuss the crisis. After three weeks, the President has not responded. On Wednesday, nine other governors joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott for a press conference to demand federal action to control the border.

Governor Abbott has allocated more than a billion dollars to continue building the wall along the Texas border and to initiate other measures to protect his state.

The illegal immigration and drug smuggling is a national problem. Those who cross illegally don’t remain in Texas and neither do the drugs. They are coming into Arkansas and all over the United States. Every state has an interest in bringing this under control.

Late Monday night, we took a boat tour along a section of the Rio Grande River that is a hotspot for smugglers. Then we hiked through the brush on the Texas side of the river. The people who patrol at night work in total darkness and rely on night-vision goggles.

Arkansas is doing its part as we are asked. The men and women from the Arkansas National Guard who deployed in July are doing an incredible job of maintaining vehicles for the Texas National Guard.

My trip was useful as I saw firsthand the enormity of the challenge along our border and to personally thank the men and women who serve our country as Border Patrol agents and as National Guard members.

Governor Hutchinson Authorizes 90-Day Deployment Of Up To 40 National Guard Members to U.S. Southern Border

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson has authorized a 90-day deployment of up to 40 members of the Arkansas National Guard to Texas to assist with security at the state’s border with Mexico.

“I have authorized this mission in response to an official request from Texas on the urgent matter at our southern border,” Governor Hutchinson said. “My hope is that our 90 days of support will improve the security of our country and reduce the adverse impact of illegal immigration on Arkansas.”

The 90-day deployment will be consistent with a training mission for the National Guard.

Commerce Department Considers Calling In National Guard To Help Process PUA Claims

By ZUZANNA SITEK

The Arkansas Commerce Department is considering calling in the National Guard to help the Division of Workforce Services go through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims. Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston says the number of claims had leveled out toward the end of last year, but changes to the program in the last two stimulus bills could require additional personnel to go through applications that had already been submitted.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/commerce-department-considers-calling-national-guard-help-process-pua-claims

Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston.

COURTESY / ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE