California National Guard
The California National Guard is part of the National Guard of the United States, a dual federal–state military reserve force in the state of California. It has three components: the California Army National Guard, California Air National Guard, and California State Guard. As of 2025, the California National Guard comprises approximately 24,000 personnel, making it one of the largest National Guard forces in the United States.
Since 2001, members of the California National Guard have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times. Thirty-one California Guardsmen have died while serving overseas in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Guantanamo Bay.
The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When under the control of its state governor, National Guard functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the president or Congress.
When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the president serves as Commander-In-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise needed."
The governor of California may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or special situations. The state mission of the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."
2025 federal deployment and legal challenge
In June 2025, the California National Guard became the subject of a high-profile legal and political dispute when President Donald Trump issued a memorandum federalizing up to 4,000 Guard members and deploying approximately 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during protests following federal immigration raids. Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed the move, asserting that it exceeded presidential authority under Title 10 and was unnecessary given local law enforcement's control.On June 9, the State of California filed suit in the Northern District of California, Newsom v. Trump, seeking to block the deployment via a temporary restraining order. The lawsuit contends the executive order violated 10 U.S.C. § 252, the Tenth Amendment, and the Posse Comitatus Act.
On June 12, 2025, Judge Charles Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco issued a 36-page ruling, returning control of the National Guardsmen back to Newsom. The second paragraph of the ruling reads:
Components
- California Army National Guard
- California Air National Guard
- California State Guard
Military Museum Command
Adjutant General
serves as the Adjutant General of California since he was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on August 1, 2022.Adjutants General of California
| Name | Term start | Term end | Notes |
| Theron R. Perlee | April 12, 1850 | October 5, 1850 | |
| William H. Richardson | October 5, 1850 | May 2, 1852 | |
| William Chauncey Kibbe | May 2, 1852 | April 30, 1864 | |
| Robert Robinson | January 1, 1864 | May 1, 1864 | |
| George S. Evans | May 1, 1864 | May 1, 1868 | |
| James M. Allen | May 1, 1868 | November 23, 1870 | |
| Thomas N. Cazneau | November 23, 1870 | December 21, 1871 | |
| Lucius H. Foote | December 21, 1871 | December 13, 1875 | |
| Patrick F. Walsh | December 13, 1875 | January 9, 1880 | |
| Samuel W. Backus | January 9, 1880 | July 1, 1882 | |
| George B. Crosby | January 11, 1883 | November 1, 1887 | |
| Richard H. Orton | November 1, 1887 | January 9, 1891 | |
| Charles Carroll Allen | January 9, 1891 | May 24, 1895 | |
| Andrew W. Bartlett | May 24, 1895 | December 23, 1898 | |
| Robert L. Peeler | December 23, 1898 | June 1, 1899 | |
| William H. Seamans | June 1, 1899 | January 3, 1902 | Died in office |
| George Stone | January 13, 1902 | February 15, 1904 | |
| Joseph B. Lauck | February 15, 1904 | January 7, 1911 | |
| Edwin A. Forbes | January 7, 1911 | June 18, 1915 | Died in office |
| Charles W. Thomas Jr. | June 19, 1915 | December 15, 1916 | |
| James J. Borree | December 16, 1916 | November 30, 1923 | |
| Richard E. Mittelstaedt | December 1, 1923 | January 5, 1931 | Also served 1940–41 |
| Seth E.P. Howard | January 6, 1931 | June 26, 1935 | Died in office |
| Paul Arndt | June 27, 1935 | October 17, 1935 | |
| Harry H. Moorehead | October 18, 1935 | January 3, 1939 | |
| Patrick J.H. Farrell | January 4, 1939 | June 10, 1940 | |
| Richard E. Mittelstaedt | June 10, 1940 | March 3, 1941 | Second term |
| Joseph O. Donovan | March 3, 1941 | July 10, 1942 | |
| Junnius Pierce | July 14, 1942 | January 13, 1943 | |
| Ray W. Hays | January 14, 1943 | November 30, 1944 | |
| Victor R. Hansen | December 27, 1944 | April 28, 1946 | |
| Curtis D. O'Sullivan | April 29, 1946 | July 15, 1951 | |
| Earl M. Jones | July 16, 1951 | December 31, 1960 | |
| Roderic L. Hill | January 1, 1961 | January 1, 1967 | |
| Glenn C. Ames | March 22, 1967 | June 5, 1975 | |
| Frank J. Schober | June 6, 1975 | December 31, 1982 | |
| Willard A. Shank | January 3, 1983 | February 13, 1987 | |
| Robert C. Thrasher | February 14, 1987 | October 9, 1992 | |
| Robert W. Barrow | October 10, 1992 | December 31, 1992 | |
| Tandy K. Bozeman | January 1, 1993 | April 27, 1999 | |
| Paul D. Monroe Jr. | April 29, 1999 | March 2004 | |
| Thomas Eres | March 2004 | June 6, 2005 | |
| John Alexander | June 7, 2005 | August 1, 2005 | |
| William H. Wade II | September 1, 2005 | February 1, 2010 | |
| Mary J. Kight | February 2, 2010 | April 15, 2011 | |
| David S. Baldwin | April 16, 2011 | July 31, 2022 | |
| Matthew P. Beevers | August 1, 2022 | Present |
Military academy
The California National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo, which houses the state's Officer Candidate School program. This academy trains qualified enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and civilians to become commissioned officers in the California Army National Guard.Upon completion of Basic Combat Training, OCS cadets attend monthly drills for approximately 16 to 18 months, followed by a two-week annual training. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army National Guard.