Photo By Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, right, outgoing adjutant general for the state of...... read more read more
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In 2024, the Washington Military Department achieved several significant accomplishments in service to the state and nation. Through the dedicated efforts of the Washington National Guard, Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD), Washington Youth Academy and Washington State Guard, the department continued its mission of safeguarding lives and enhancing the well-being of Washington residents.
Among the most significant milestones for the Department during 2024 was the changing of the command, as the 36th Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, retired on June 30, 2024, and passed command to Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh.
Below are other significant events and achievements:
Washington National Guard
During the summer wildfire season, helicopter crews from 96th Aviation Troop Command supported the Washington Department of Natural Resources, flying more than 55 hours above the Retreat Fire. They dropped nearly 200,000 gallons of water on the 45,000-acre blaze. Additionally, crews dropped 122 buckets of water – nearly 78,000 gallons – on the Williams Mine Fire (Skamania County), Stranger Creek Fire (Lincoln County), and Upper Ruby Fire (Pend Oreille County) before the firefighting mission ended.
In October, following the tragic crash of a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler during a routine training flight near Mt. Rainier, the Washington National Guard provided vital aviation support and traffic control to assist first responders.
From August to November, cyber professionals from the Washington Air National Guard continued their annual support to the Washington Secretary of State’s office during the 2024 election cycle. Their support provides an additional layer of security for the Secretary’s operations.
Throughout 2024, the Washington National Guard also continued to prepare for a variety of state response missions. More than 250 Guard members trained for wildfire response, 500 more prepared for civil unrest missions, and others focused on readiness for the potential Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake.
On the federal-mission front, Air and Army National Guard members continued to support global missions, with deployments to all major combatant commands. A significant highlight of 2024 was the nearly 70 subject matter exchanges with State Partnership Program partners in Thailand and Malaysia. This set a program record for the number of engagements in a single year. This also included expanding participation through Enduring Partners 2024, a Washington Air National Guard lead exercise.
In November, an aircrew with the 141st Air Refueling Wing refueled three Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKM aircraft during a historic State Partnership engagement with the Royal Malaysian Air Force at RMAF Subang Air Base, Malaysia. This was the first mid-air refueling for a U.S. and Russian-made aircraft.
Washington Emergency Management Division
The state Emergency Operations Center activated in 2024 for wildfire threats, the bomb cyclone storm and important exercises such as testing the plans of the Columbia Generating Station. The agency also teamed up to help Disaster Recovery Centers open in Spokane to aid wildfire survivors and helped counties and local governments help secure important post-disaster funds.
The Hazards and Outreach Section achieved unprecedented engagement in 2024, with more than 1.59 million participants in the Great Washington ShakeOut earthquake drill—the highest turnout ever—and outreach efforts reaching more than 6 million people. The Statewide Training Program delivered 236 training sessions in 2024, reaching over 4,100 participants, including first responders, tribal personnel, and community representatives. Offering specialized courses such as the National Emergency Management Basic Academy and All-Hazard Position-Specific Courses, the program significantly enhanced Washington’s emergency management capabilities through a combination of in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
The Radiological Preparedness Program updated the Washington Fixed Nuclear Facility Plan to align with FEMA's 2023 guidelines and conducted two large-scale ingestion pathway exercises involving over 300 participants. The program also participated in multiple emergency response drills, showcasing operational coordination and public information capabilities during complex scenarios, including the 2024 Department of Energy severe event field exercise at the Hanford nuclear site.
The Infrastructure and Industry Section supported the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, which delivered the first “State of Cybersecurity” report to the Legislature. Additionally, the section launched a critical infrastructure analysis initiative, using advanced modeling tools to prioritize restoration efforts and improve state preparedness.
The Planning Team achieved a historic milestone by completing the Washington Emergency Management Division's first-ever response-focused emergency plan, developed in collaboration with state, local and tribal partners. Scheduled for release in early 2025, this foundational document marks a significant advancement in disaster response coordination and the division’s focus on the response mission area.
The Budget and Finance team managed $98.4 million across eight federal grant programs through 648 agreements with 284 subrecipients, including tribes, state agencies, counties, cities, and nonprofit organizations. These funds bolstered critical emergency management activities, enhancing state and local preparedness, improving hazardous materials response, bolstering cybersecurity, and upgrading emergency operations centers, significantly strengthening statewide resilience.
Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy
In 2024, the WYCA received a record-breaking 1,217 applications, enrolling 333 youth and helping 275 cadets transition into the post-residential phase of the program. Cadets earned an average of 7.1 out of the 8 high school credits attempted. Out of 2,200 credits attempted, cadets earned a total 1,932 credits – an 87.8 percent credit retrieval rate. Cadets also completed nearly 15,000 hours of community service, averaging 54 hours per cadent, contributing to projects ranging from environmental restoration to supporting local food banks.
Following a successful 2024, which had an 83 percent graduation rate, surpassing the national average of 73 percent - 2025 is already looking busy, with more than 450 applications received for the year's first cycle.
Washington State Guard
In 2024, the Washington State Guard (WSG) was called to State Active Duty multiple times, providing critical support during wildfires and the search and recovery mission for the U.S. Navy's U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler crash near Mount Rainier.
Teaming with the Washington Air National Guard, the State Guard helped protect Washington's election system as part of the state's cybersecurity team. This marked the first time a WSG officer led the mission, ensuring election integrity.
During the summer, the State Guard conducted its first full unit training at Yakima Training Center. Soldiers trained in wildfire response, first aid, and emergency communications, marking a key milestone in the unit’s development.
| Date Taken: | 01.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.10.2025 12:27 |
| Story ID: | 488741 |
| Location: | CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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