WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and sworn in as the 20th director of the Army National Guard here Tuesday.
Until Tuesday, Kadavy was special assistant to the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, following his service as commander, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, in Afghanistan.
Before his Afghanistan deployment, Kadavy served as the Army National Guard's deputy director, assisting the director in formulating, developing and coordinating all programs, policies and plans. He previously served as Nebraska's adjutant general and director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
"I can't think of a better way to train somebody and get them the experience to take over the job as director of the Army National Guard, representing the adjutants general, the governors, the Army, and to serve in support of 350,000 Army National Guardsmen," said Army Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, thanking Kadavy and his family for their dedication and service.
In his new position, Lt. Gen. Kadavy is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all programs, policies and plans affecting the Army National Guard. He succeeds Army Maj. Gen. Judd Lyons, who has served as acting director since his Jan. 18, 2014, appointment by Gen. Grass following the retirement of Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr.
Kadavy is the fourth three-star general to fill the position.
"Lt. Gen. Kadavy's experience is unparalleled," said Army Gen. Raymond Odierno, Army chief of staff.
Assignments at the National Guard Bureau, in tactical units in the Army National Guard, as adjutant general of Nebraska and during three deployments in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan give Kadavy the background and capability to understand all facets of his challenging new assignment, Odierno said.
"I am very proud of the fact that he is going to run the Army National Guard," Odierno said. "I'm proud to be here to witness the promotion of Tim Kadavy to lieutenant general and director of the Army National Guard. I wish you nothing but the best of luck - and congratulations to you."
"It is a tremendous honor to have two members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff here for my ceremony," Kadavy said, thanking Generals Grass and Odierno. "The strength of the nation is the Army, the strength of the Army is its Soldiers, and the strength of our Soldiers are our families," Kadavy said, quoting General Odierno after receiving his third star.
Kadavy, who received his commission through the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in 1984, was sworn into his new position by Secretary of the Army John McHugh in a separate ceremony following his promotion.
"We can embrace the changes and work through these challenges," Kadavy said. "We have done it before, and I know the Army National Guard is up for that task again as we move forward in these challenging fiscal times. The Army National Guard has a proud legacy, and I'm honored to serve this exceptional organization - and I look forward to what we will achieve together in the future."