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Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh, who Gov. Jay Inslee appointed adjutant general for the state of Washington, effective June 29.
Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh has been appointed adjutant general of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday.
Welsh will command all Washington Army and Air National Guard forces and serve as the director of the Washington Military Department, which along with the Washington National Guard, includes the state?s Emergency Management Division and the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. The position also serves as homeland security advisor to the governor and as administrator for all Homeland Security grants awarded to Washington?s state, local, Tribal and non-profit entities.
Welsh has 36 years of military experience. He has spent the last decade working in various capacities with the Washington Military Department. For the last four years he served as the department's deputy director and commander of the Washington Air National Guard, leading 2,000 airmen who respond to natural disasters and work on some of the nation's most sensitive intelligence, cyberspace and special warfare missions. He was chief of staff for the state Military Department from 2014 to 2017, and the 194th?Wing Commander from 2017 to 2019.
Additionally, Welsh has been the National Guard advisor to the assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force for personnel and reserve affairs since 2023.
"Gen. Welsh is an exceptionally experienced and strategic leader who is ready for the responsibilities demanded of this crucial role," Inslee said. "He will ensure Washington's readiness in the face of new and emerging risks, from cyber threats to natural disasters."
Daugherty retires at the end of June after more than 40 years of service, including the last 12 as adjutant general and director of the Washington Military Department.
Daugherty provided critical guidance during large-scale state disasters to include the SR 530 Landslide in 2013, catastrophic wildfire seasons, and the COVID-19 pandemic when he deployed thousands of Washington National Guard personnel to do everything from set-up and operate COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites to assisting local food banks. In 2021 he oversaw the largest federal deployment of Washington Army National Guard soldiers since 2008, with approximately 2,000 mobilized to locations including Ukraine, Poland, and Syria to support multiple operational theaters.
"Gen. Daugherty provided steady and compassionate leadership facing down some of the most unique and demanding challenges our state has ever faced," Inslee said. "When he announced his retirement he told the Military Department it had been his "greatest honor" to lead them. The privilege was ours, general."
Welsh's appointment is effective June 29.
Gov. Jay Inslee tours the pollinator garden at Woodland Park Zoo on Wednesday as part of a Pollinator Week event.
Gov. Jay Inslee, First Spouse Trudi Inslee, and family members celebrated National Pollinator Week with a visit to the Woodland Park Zoo on Wednesday.
Pollinators play a crucial role in our food supply, but habitat loss and climate change have threatened these vital species. In his time as governor, Inslee has signed several laws that help protect pollinator habitat, restrict pesticides that threaten their health, and made the public more aware of their importance.
This year, the governor signed Senate Bill 5934, which lets local governments encourage permit applications to include pollinator friendly plants in landscaped areas. The law also prohibits local or neighborhood bans on beehives and pollinator habitats.
"Pollination might sound mundane if you don't have a green thumb, but it's vitally important to our ecology and biodiversity," Inslee said. "I'm proud of Washington's efforts to protect pollinators. Their biggest threat is climate change, and Washington has a comprehensive plan to fight it."
Gov. Jay Inslee, legislators, and Spokane area leaders cut the ribbon on a just-opened stretch of the Children of the Sun Trail along the North Spokane Corridor.
Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to Spokane Friday to laud state and local collaboration on the latest stretch of the Children of the Sun Trail that reduce pollution, advance health, promote sustainable development, and better connect communities.
Inslee joined Mayor Lisa Brown and others to celebrate the opening of the newest section of the trail, a nearly two-mile stretch built through a joint effort between the city of Spokane and the state Department of Transportation. When completed, the trail will parallel the full North Spokane Corridor to support alternative transportation options like walking or cycling. The trail connects users to different neighborhoods and business districts.
Active transportation isn't just about health and recreation. In Washington, it's part of an overall strategy to remove pollution, to support safety for those not using vehicles, and to make neighborhoods more interconnected.
"This place in Spokane is the happiest, healthiest, most dynamic place in the state of Washington today," Inslee said. "The completion of this trail shows our commitment to our children -- their health, their family and the fact they can have a choice in transportation whether to walk or ride a bike safely."
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Commerce awards decarbonization grants to communities in 24 counties
The state Department of Commerce announced $72 million in grants for community clean energy projects across Washington on Monday. The grants benefit 71 projects in 24 counties including solar projects, hydrogen fueling, electricity microgrids and more. Funded by the state Climate Commitment Act, these awards go to projects that can immediately be put to use to fight climate change while meeting each community's unique needs. The full list of projects can be found online.
WSDOT seeks public input for Washington's intercity bus system??
The Travel Washington Intercity Bus Program is exploring how to improve connections across the state to make service more accessible, reliable, and convenient. Now the program is counting on the public's feedback to help build both its near- and long-term future. The state Department of Transportation will hold online meetings specifically tailored to different regions of the state starting next week.
Ecology secures federal funds for coastal resilience projects
The state Department of Ecology was recently awarded $5.4 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support five projects that address threats to coastal ecosystems in Washington. These projects in places like Padilla Bay and Owl Creek will restore critical habitat and build resilience to climate change-related hazards such as saltwater intrusion, coastal erosion and sea level rise. They will help coastal and Tribal communities thrive in the present, adapt to hazard challenges, and transform to meet future needs.?
DNR bans dispersed campfires on some state lands beginning Friday
The state Department of Natural Resources is banning dispersed campfires on lands it manages throughout its Southeast Region beginning Friday as hot, dry summer weather increases wildfire danger. Multiple wildfires are already actively burning in the 16-county region covering 900,000 acres. Campfires will still be allowed only in approved designated campgrounds.
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