ARLINGTON, Va. - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has selected retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul E. Mock as the national chair for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense operational committee that seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve.
ESGR's national chair is an official Defense Department volunteer position.
Mock was to take an oath of office and be sworn in today. The position carries a three-year term and the protocol status of a four-star flag or general officer.
A retired lieutenant with the Los Angeles Police Department, Mock also has extensive experience serving military members and their families through work with the Association of the United States Army, the Fisher House Foundation and the Military Child Education Coalition.
He will lead a team of more than 4,900 volunteers spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Jessica L. Wright, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, praised the selection. "Mr. Mock comes to us with a wealth of experience in the employer community, the reserve components and supporting military families," she said. "His leadership and management expertise are a tremendous asset for the Department of Defense."
Almost half of the nation's military force serves in the Guard and Reserve.
"I am humbled by my selection as the national chair for ESGR and excited about furthering employer support for the men and women in the National Guard and Reserve," Mock said. I look forward to supporting ESGR's cadre of volunteers and assisting Mr. Ron Young, ESGR's executive director, in advancing our mission."