NPC Luncheon with General Frank Grass

Gen. Frank J. Grass, member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and chief of the National Guard Bureau, addressed issues facing the National Guard at a National Press Club luncheon on January 9, 2014. Grass, who took command Sept. 7, 2012, is responsible for ensuring that the more than 460,000 Army and Air National Guard citizen-warriors stand ready to protect the nation and mobilize as active duty soldiers and airmen and women. Since 9-11, National Guard citizen soldiers and airmen have supported more than 760,000 overseas mobilizations, some more than once. Grass serves as military advisor to President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and the official Defense Department liaison to the governors and adjutants general in all 54 states and territories on matters involving the National Guard. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has called Grass "a thinker, a learner and one of the most experienced leaders in our military today."