National Guard public affairs chiefs to address American Legion Post 20, Sept. 11

Public affairs chiefs of the National Guard Bureau will address American Legion Post 20 at the National Press Club at noon Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the McClendon Room. The speaker portion of the meeting is open to all Club members.

The guest speakers will be Tracy O'Grady-Walsh, recently named director of public affairs for the bureau, and Jon Anderson, deputy director. They will discuss public affairs issues, priorities and challenges for the National Guard.

O'Grady-Walsh is a retired Air Force colonel and former senior executive in the Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs. Anderson has been deputy director of public affairs for the bureau since 2010. He previously served in public affairs positions in the Defense Department, the General Services Administration and the Air Force.

The National Guard Bureau oversees administration of the Army and Air Force National Guard. It is responsible for the training and readiness of 453,000 National Guard members nationwide.

Post 20 has been associated with the Club since the Post was founded in 1919, at the suggestion of famed World War I General John 'Black Jack' Pershing. Pershing was serving in Washington at the time and was an associate member of the Club.