VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The 46th Annual Virginia National Guard Association (VNGA) Officers Conference was held at the Ramada Plaza Resort in Virginia Beach 21-23 April.

360 Guard Officers, spouses, family, and over a dozen vendors attended the two day conference.

The newly appointed Virginia’s Adjutant General, Maj.General Robert B. Newman Jr. Briefed the Guard Officers, about his new ideas and transformation of Virginia National Guard, aided by slides presentation called: “Vision 2007”.   “The Commonwealths Guardian “ A transformed Joint Team, Fully prepare to Answer Every Call to Duty from commonwealth and nation. Gen. Newman emphasizing, Caring for our guardsmen and their families with systems that are benchmarks in the nation. Measuring ourselves by success of our small units and their leaders. Customer oriented committed and competent.

VA, Beach mayor Meyera E.Oberndorf was up and early to welcome the Guard Association. US. Senator George Allen (R-VA) was the morning speaker and State Senator Kenneth Stolle the banquet speaker.

LTC( R ) Tommy C. Smith was elected as president for 2006- 2007 and CW4 (R ) John D. Velleca as President Elect for 2006- 2007… Mr.Velleca is the retiring VNGA Executive Director. He was replaced by BG(R) Kenneth W. Smith. CPT Mark Widener is VP for Air, and CPT Daniel Jones is VP Army.

This years top award winners were The Jim Hurt Award - 183d Regt (RTI) And The Harry Q. Rose Award went to 2d LT Josuha Fair.

The 54th brigade of Virginia Beach hosted the conference. The 47th Annual conference in 2007 will be in Richmond hosted by Joint Force Headquarters, 27-29 April in Holiday Inn Koger Center.

General Newman’s slide presentation ( Read Only Format ) can be viewed in the Photo Album , VNGA 46th State conference photos.

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