Hutchinson Names Brig. Gen. Mark Berry As New Adjutant General

Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson has appointed Brigadier General Mark H. Berry as the 52nd Adjutant General of Arkansas, which commands the Arkansas National Guard.

Major General William D. Wofford currently serves as Adjutant General.

Berry’s career spans more than 40 years, including more than 20 years of active-duty service.

In 1992, after completing his active duty service, Berry joined the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith where he served until his appointment as Chief of Staff for the Arkansas Air National Guard in 2012.

“It is my pleasure to announce Brig. Gen. Mark Berry as the new Adjutant General of Arkansas,” said Hutchinson. “Brig. Gen. Berry is a principled leader who, over the course of his 40 year career, has served our state and country – at home and overseas – with honor and integrity. Those traits, accompanied with his experience and extensive knowledge of Arkansas and our military, make him the obvious choice for this new role.”

Berry enlisted in the Air Force in 1974, attended Officer Training School in 1985, and has been stationed in Nevada, Oklahoma, South Korea, and Arkansas.

Hutchinson noted that this is the first time in recalled history that Arkansas’s Adjutant General has been appointed from the Air Force.

“I am truly honored to serve as Arkansas’s new Adjutant General,” Berry said. “I appreciate the Gov.-elect’s confidence in my leadership. I look forward to further serving our new Commander In Chief of the Arkansas National Guard, Gov.-elect Hutchinson, and the people of Arkansas.”

The Arkansas National Guard includes the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Arkansas Air National Guard.

While the President can call the guard into action for federal purposes, the governor can utilize the Arkansas National Guard in emergency situations, such as weather disasters or for martial law.