U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, addressed a crowd of 250 soldiers, airmen, and their spouses at the National Guard Association of Georgia (NGAGA) 71^st annual state conference in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

“Georgia’s role in our national defense cannot be overstated,” said Senator Perdue.“Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, Georgia’s National Guard has deployed more than 21,000 guardsmen to countries in all six combatant commands across the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan. We discussed how Georgia’s military community is evolving to meet the needs of our 21st century warfighters and combat global threats. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I value the opportunity to hear directly from our guardsmen and will continue working to secure the resources they need to protect Americans at home and abroad.”

On May 23, 2019, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. As a member of the committee, Senator Perdue secured dozens of provisions of importance to Georgia in the annual defense bill, which now awaits consideration by the full United States Senate.

The National Guard Association of Georgia was founded in 1948 to “advance the best interests of its members in support of the betterment of the Georgia National Guard as a ready, reliable, and relevant component of local, state and national security programs, now and in the future.”

Senator Perdue was joined by the following National Guard leadership:

Major General Gary Brito, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence

Lieutenant General Daniel R. Hokanson, the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau

Brigadier General Roy Robinson (Ret.), the former president of the National Guard Association of United States

Major General Tom Carden, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard

Brigadier General Thomas Grabowski, Commander of the Georgia Air National Guard

Brigadier General Randall Simmons, Commander of the Georgia Army National Guard