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The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) is the state’s executive agency responsible to the governor for managing New York’s Military Forces, which consists of nearly 20,000 personnel.
The New York Army National Guard, with a strength of about 10,400 Soldiers, and the New York Air National Guard, with a strength of about 6,000 Airmen, are federal reserve forces which also respond to the governor when not mobilized.
The New York Naval Militia, with a strength of about 2,700 personnel, and the New York Guard, with 400 personnel, are state uniformed forces.
The agency and military forces are led by the adjutant general.
Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, has a dual role as an appointed employee of NYS, and a federally recognized and active drilling general officer in the New York National Guard.
He is assisted by the Assistant Adjutant General, Army, Major General Michele Natali, and the Assistant Adjutant General, Air, Brig. Gen. Michael Bank, who oversee those services.
The agency reports to the executive chamber as part of the governor’s Public Safety team.
The adjutant general is responsible for agency administration as well as training, personnel, equipment and facility readiness for all of New York’s Military Forces.
This includes ensuring Army and Air National Guard elements are ready to deploy on federal missions at the direction of the president of the United States and deploying New York Military Forces on state missions when directed by the governor.
DMNA employs about 375 state and 4,000 federal employees who support New York Military Forces statewide.
DMNA has direct responsibility to maintain and secure more than 50 installations across the Empire State. These installations are state owned or federally licensed properties which include air bases, armories, armed forces readiness centers and other logistical and training sites.
DMNA’s executive offices are located at 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham where state and federal staff work side by side to manage military readiness at the governor’s direction.
DMNA operates Joint Task Force Empire Shield, a force of Army and Air National Guard, New York Naval Militia and New York Guard personnel all on state active duty to conduct land and waterborne Homeland Security Operations in the New York City metropolitan area in order to deter and prevent terrorist acts. The force is prepared to conduct domestic operations in order to save lives and reduce human suffering with an operational headquarters that maintains routine interagency coordination.
DMNA also provides trainers who work with the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to implement the Citizen Preparedness Corps through which residents across the state are provided instruction in how to prepare for emergencies, survive them and recover.
The Division of Military and Naval Affairs maintains New York’s collection of more than 20,000 historically significant military items ranging from Civil War Battle Flags to historic uniforms and items displayed in armories across New York. TheNew York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center in Saratoga Springs is administered by DMNA and houses historical exhibits and provides for curatorial management and collection storage.
Additional key leader information can be foundhere.
