PUBLICATION DATE: February 8, 2023

WI NATIONAL GUARD RELEASE: Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs values diversity within its ranks

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by Vaughn R. Larson

In January, Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin?s adjutant general, hosted the first meeting of the State Joint Diversity Executive Council (SJDEC), a retooled team authorized to drive meaningful change throughout the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs.

The council is modeled after the National Guard Bureau?s Joint Diversity Executive Council, which has been recognized nationally as among the best in the nation. National Guard policy states that diversity and inclusion is to be institutionalized ?by developing an agile, ready, innovative and adaptive force to attract, recruit, and retain a quality, inclusive and equitable work force that reflects the communities it serves.?

The executive council ?concentrates positional authority at appropriate levels, to include state leadership, for perspective and a unified voice which will drive the diversity, equity and inclusion message? throughout the organization, said Kathrine Bermudez, who provides training, education and resources to the SJDEC.

?The executive council proactively embeds a systematic application of the diversity, equity and inclusion lens across policies, processes and business decisions,? Bermudez explained. ?The executive council structure is the key ? by virtue of the positional authority held by its members, they can institute meaningful changes to drive the Department of Military Affairs culture toward embracing inclusive behaviors that bring the Soldier, Airman and state employee experience front and center.?

Knapp presides over the SJDEC, which includes the deputy adjutants general for Army and Air, the director of the Department of Military Affairs state human resources, the director of staff, the Wisconsin Army National Guard chief of staff, the adjutant general?s executive assistant, the Wisconsin National Guard Joint Staff?s chief of staff, the Wisconsin Army National Guard?s command chief warrant officer, the Wisconsin Air National Guard state command chief, and the Wisconsin Army National Guard state command sergeant major.

"The National Guard is actually ahead of the curve when it comes to diversity,? Knapp observed. ?The Soldiers and Airmen in our organization have different jobs and experiences when not on military status, and we recognize that as a force multiplier. Our Guard members can draw from their many skill sets in a way that often allows them to accomplish their mission more efficiently and effectively.

?Our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are an effort to recognize and fully capitalize on the full spectrum of experiences and capabilities within the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs ? both military and civilian ? and to figure out the best way to use what our people bring to the table to make our organization better and more effective," Knapp continued. ?We serve Wisconsin better when our Department demographics look like Wisconsin, and I think people would be surprised at how closely we actually do mirror the general population in most ways.?

Brig. Gen. Matthew Strub, Wisconsin?s deputy adjutant general for Army, said the Wisconsin Army National Guard is a better organization with people from multiple backgrounds, experiences and cultures.

?The differences people bring to the discussion helps us all see things from a different lens,? he said. ?Through the different experiences people have, we can find multiple solutions to the problems and then get to a best possible solution.?

Strub acknowledged that the military is built on standards and uniformity, but the SJDEC ?will help us create rules, policies and procedures informed by the people we have serving from diverse backgrounds. In our mission to serve the public, the more we resemble the public the more effective we will be.?

Brig. Gen. David May, Wisconsin?s deputy adjutant general for Air, agreed.

?It is essential that we embrace diversity and then inclusion in the military to welcome talent from across the entire population,? May said. ?Furthermore, the amazing opportunities that we have should be available for consideration by everyone.?

May said the Wisconsin National Guard is working hard to connect with communities and regions of the state that do not traditionally supply recruits.

?Every eligible person in Wisconsin should at least know about the opportunities they would find with us,? May said. ?I believe we value our people much differently than our potential adversaries and as a result, our women and men in uniform give the nation a strategic advantage.? Because of this, we can consider dynamic operational concepts that rely on trust and decentralized actions to outpace a future enemy.

?We can only get there and stay there by welcoming talent into the organization from as wide a swath of our population as possible,? May continued.

Liam Walsh, a Wisconsin Army National Guard veteran and a civilian employee at the Department of Military Affairs, is a diversity, equity and inclusion technician on the executive council.

?The council exists to supervise diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the Department of Military Affairs,? Walsh said, adding that the council?s mission connects with his own personal values. ?The council seeks to make the Department of Military Affairs more welcoming to all members and all citizens of the state.?

?Diversity will raise the bar for all involved,? Strub said. ?And ultimately, that is the goal for the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs and the Wisconsin National Guard. The new SJDEC is just one way DMA leaders are striving to ensure we are always ready, always there to serve the state of Wisconsin and our country.?

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