NEWS

**COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES**

**2521 S. Clark Street, Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22202, (703) 699-2800,
fax (703) 699-2846, [[www.cngr.gov]{.underline}](../www.cngr.gov)**

May 1, 2006

**[In Washington, May 3-4]{.underline}**

**HEARINGS TO FOCUS ON ROLE OF NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES IN HOMELAND
SECURITY, HOMELAND DEFENSE -- COMMISSIONERS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS**

The second in a series of public hearings on the current and future
roles of the National Guard and reserves in meeting the nation's
security needs, at home and abroad, will be held in Washington May 3-4.
The hearings are being conducted by the independent Commission on the
National Guard and Reserves, which is charged by Congress to recommend
any needed changes in the laws and policies under which the National
Guard and reserves operate.

The May hearings will focus on the appropriate roles of the National
Guard and reserves in homeland security, homeland defense, and disaster
response. Central questions concern how the activation of more than a
half-million National Guardsmen and reservists since 9/11, and the
deployment of more than 100,000 pieces of National Guard equipment
overseas, affect the ability of state units to meet the nation's
security and disaster response requirements at home.

The hearings are being held in Washington at the National Transportation
Safety Board Conference Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW. Invited to
testify are top federal homeland security officials and military
commanders with responsibility for homeland security, and homeland
security experts. Information on the witnesses is posted on the
Commission's Web site -- [www.cngr.gov](http://www.cngr.gov/).

**The Chairman and members of the 13-member Commission are available for
radio interviews on the days of the hearings.** They are:

-   Chairman Arnold L. Punaro, a former Commanding General of the 4^th^
    Marine Division and Director of Reserve Affairs for the Marine
    Corps, has 24 years of experience on Capitol Hill and is now
    Executive Vice President of Science Applications International
    Corporation.

-   William L. Ball, III, a former Secretary of the Navy, Assistant
    Secretary of State, and Assistant to the President for Legislative
    Affairs, is Chairman of the Board of the Asia Foundation.

-   Les Brownlee, formerly Under Secretary of the Army, Acting Secretary
    of the Army, and staff director of the Senate Armed Services
    Committee, is President of Les Brownlee & Associates, LLC.

-   Rhett Dawson, a former Assistant to the President for Operations and
    staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is President
    and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council.

-   Larry K. Eckles was Assistant Division Commander of the 35^th^
    Infantry Division, Fort Leavenworth, and Chief of Staff of the
    Nebraska Army National Guard.

-   John M. Keane, the 29^th^ Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and former
    commander of the 101^st^ Airborne Division and 18^th^ Airborne
    Corps, is co-founder and Senior Managing Director of Keane Advisors.

-   Patricia L. Lewis, after 28 years of service with the Senate Armed
    Services Committee, the Navy Department, and the Secretary of
    Defense, is a partner in Monfort-Lewis, LLC.

-   Dan McKinnon was founder, Chairman, and CEO of North American
    Airlines and, as Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, was
    responsible for implementation of airline deregulation.

-   Wade Rowley, after 23 years with the California Army National Guard
    and Army Reserves, is a consultant on border protection with the
    Department of Homeland Security.

-   James E. Sherrard, III, was Chief of Air Force Reserve and commanded
    the Air Force Reserve Command, an airlift group, two Reserve
    installations, two wings, and two Numbered Air Forces.

-   Donald L. Stockton, whose nearly 30 years in the Air Force Reserves
    included command responsibility in the 934^th^ Airlift Wing, is
    owner and operator of the Marshfield Drayage Company in Missouri.

-   E. Gordon Stump, formerly Adjutant General and Director of Military
    and Veterans Affairs in Michigan, was a Vice President of Uniroyal
    Goodrich Tire Co. and is now President of Strategic Defense
    Associates, LLC.

-   J. Stanton Thompson was Special Assistant for Reserve Matters to the
    Commander, U.S. NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Command, and
    is an Executive Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
    Farm Service Agency.

**To arrange interviews, contact**:

Mike Brown, (703) 699-2854, (703) 901-7835 (cell), or
Michael.Brown@wso.whs.mil

Laura Waxman, (703) 699-2875, (202) 489-7534 (cell), or
Laura.Waxman@wso.whs.mil

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