Raimondo names Callahan new R.I. National Guard commander

GOV. GINA M. RAIMONDO has named Col. Christopher P. Callahan to be the next adjutant general of Rhode Island as well as commanding general of the R.I. National Guard. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
GOV. GINA M. RAIMONDO has named Col. Christopher P. Callahan to be the next adjutant general of Rhode Island as well as commanding general of the R.I. National Guard. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo has named Col. Christopher P. Callahan the next adjutant general of the state, as well as the commanding general of the R.I. National Guard.
Callahan replaces retiring Major General Kevin R. McBride and has more than 25 years in various roles with the guard in the state. Currently he leads 900 solders as commander of the 56th Troop Command at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich. Previous positions include director of operations at the Joint Force Headquarters at the Command Readiness Center as well as director of aviation and safety at the Quonset Point Air National Guard Station. He also served in Iraq as a battalion commander with the 18th Aviation Brigade.
“I am honored to have been chosen to serve my state and this country in this role,” said Callahan in a statement. “I look forward to working with the talented men and women of the R.I. National Guard to ready our team for swift responses to emergencies, strengthen our partnerships with civilian partners, build on our work to improve interagency collaboration, and protect Rhode Islanders from 21st century challenges like cyber-attacks.”
The Army officer was recommended by a search committee that included Lt. Gen. Reginald Centracchio (ret.), Lt. Col. Karen Pinch (ret.), Hospital Corpsman Chief Jonathan Rascoe (ret.), Adm. James Stavridis (ret.) and Lt. Com. Camille Vella-Wilkinson (ret.). U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted that “his vast experience and unique skill set make him well-qualified to lead our men and women in uniform. [He] has a proven track record of achievement in both operational and strategic roles.”

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