COMPONENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI MILITARY DEPARTMENT
Commanding General
Command Chief Warrant Officer
Commanding General
BG (MSSG) John Carter
BG Carter began his military career upon graduating from Army ROTC at Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, in 1985. He served on Active Duty in Europe as a Field Artillery Officer until 1989, when he transitioned to the Army Reserve. He volunteered and served during Desert Shield/Desert Storm with the
BG (MSSG) John Carter
BG Carter began his military career upon graduating from Army ROTC at Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, in 1985. He served on Active Duty in Europe as a Field Artillery Officer until 1989, when he transitioned to the Army Reserve. He volunteered and served during Desert Shield/Desert Storm with the 2-114th Field Artillery, 155th Separate Armored Brigade, MSARNG. BG Carter is certified in the Field Artillery, Military Intelligence and Signal Corps with 15 years total Federal commissioned service. He is a graduate of the US Army Field Artillery basic course and Signal Corps advanced course. Carter has also served in the Alaska Territorial Guard, where he commanded an MP Battalion, and the Maryland Defense Force, where he was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, Operations, Training and Policy (D-3/5/7).
Chief of Staff
Command Chief Warrant Officer
Commanding General
COL (MSSG) John Carmichael
A 1972 graduate of the United States Naval Academy followed by twenty six years of progressive management experience in the United States Navy (1968-1994) including first line manager experience involving oversight responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer of a U.S. Naval Destroyer with 500 personnel and a $
COL (MSSG) John Carmichael
A 1972 graduate of the United States Naval Academy followed by twenty six years of progressive management experience in the United States Navy (1968-1994) including first line manager experience involving oversight responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer of a U.S. Naval Destroyer with 500 personnel and a $4 million dollar annual budget. Retired as an O-5, Commander. Awards include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), National Defense Medal (2 awards), Vietnam service and campaign medals, Surface Warfare Officer Badge, Command at Sea Badge
Command Chief Warrant Officer
Command Chief Warrant Officer
Command Chief Warrant Officer
CW5 (MSSG) Beckett Hadley bhadley@msstateguard.org
Chief Hadley became the first CW5 in the MSSG in 2022. Chief Hadley first joined the MSSG in March 13, 2010. Chief Hadley joined as a Corporal after he completed four years of JROTC.
Chief Hadley has numerous years of distinguished service to Mississippi as a Law Enforcement Officer.
State Command Sergeant Major
Command Chief Warrant Officer
Command Chief Warrant Officer
CSM (MSSG) Cliff Freeman
Command Sergeant Major C. T. Freeman enlisted in the Army in May of 1976 as a Military Policeman. A 1976 graduate of Senatobia High School, he holds an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Northwest Mississippi Community College; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Memphis an
CSM (MSSG) Cliff Freeman
Command Sergeant Major C. T. Freeman enlisted in the Army in May of 1976 as a Military Policeman. A 1976 graduate of Senatobia High School, he holds an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Northwest Mississippi Community College; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Memphis and a Master's Degree in Criminology with a concentration in Sociology from the University of Memphis. Command Sergeant Major Freeman is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center. Freeman is a licensed polygraph Examiner in both Mississippi and Tennessee. His military education includes Basic Combat Training at Ft. Knox, KY; Advanced Individual Training (Military Police) at Ft. McClellan, AL; Command Language Program (with Honors); The Military Police German Terminology Course; Drug and Alcohol Education Specialist (DAES); Basic Non-Commissioned Officer's Course (Distinguished Graduate); Warrant Officer Candidate Military Development Course (WOC-D); Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); and the Sergeant Major Academy, Professional Military Education Academy, State Guard Association of the United States. Command Sergeant Major Freeman began his career with the 564th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion located in the Federal Republic of Germany. His second tour in Germany was with Charlie Battery, 3/71 Air Defense Artillery (Nike Hercules) as Sergeant of the Guard. Upon completion of this tour, he returned to the 564* MP Company. Other assignments include HHT (-Det 1) 1/108th Armored Calvary; HHC 2/198th CAB and the Air National Guard. Command Sergeant Major Freeman's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, three awards of the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (multiple), National Defense Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Airforce Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Airforce Longevity Service Award and the Airforce Good Conduct Medal.
G1 - Director of Personnel & Admin
G1 - Director of Personnel & Admin
G1 - Director of Personnel & Admin
COL (MSSG) Jack Gardner jgardner@msstateguard.org
G2 - Intelligence
G1 - Director of Personnel & Admin
G1 - Director of Personnel & Admin
MAJ (MSSG) Jonathan Harris
G3 - Operations and Training
G1 - Director of Personnel & Admin
G3 - Operations and Training
COL (MSSG) Daniel Doss
G4 - Logistics
G1 - Director of Personnel & Admin
G3 - Operations and Training
LTC (MSSG) Henry Gallant
G5 - Military Civil Affairs
G5 - Military Civil Affairs
G5 - Military Civil Affairs
MAJ (MSSG) Wesley Dip
1981-1989 HHD 2nd BN 20th Special Forces Group(Airborne) MSARNG Food Service Section
1989-1997 113th Military Police Company MSARNG Fire Team Leader Called to active duty
1991 first Gulf War Post MP Fort Lewis, WA Called to active duty
1996 in support Dayton peace accords for Bosnia US Police Forces, Kaiserlauter
MAJ (MSSG) Wesley Dip
1981-1989 HHD 2nd BN 20th Special Forces Group(Airborne) MSARNG Food Service Section
1989-1997 113th Military Police Company MSARNG Fire Team Leader Called to active duty
1991 first Gulf War Post MP Fort Lewis, WA Called to active duty
1996 in support Dayton peace accords for Bosnia US Police Forces, Kaiserlautern, Germany
1997-2012 172nd Air Wing ANG Security Forces Squad Leader Called to active after 9/11 with various deployments to Diego Garcia, Nellis AFB and Manas Kyrgyzstan Retired 2012 as a Master Sargent.
30 years LEO Worked with MS State Capitol as patrol Officer and MS Dept Wildlife Fisheries and Parks as conservation officer, and retired as Director of Communications
G6 - Communications
G5 - Military Civil Affairs
G5 - Military Civil Affairs
LTC (MSSG) Paul Kundrick
Command Chaplain
Public Affairs Officer
Command Chaplain
CH (COL (MSSG)) Scott Carson
Command Surgeon
Public Affairs Officer
Command Chaplain
LTC (MSSG) Joe Jacob
Public Affairs Officer
Public Affairs Officer
Public Affairs Officer
CPT (MSSG) Andrew Bryson
CPT Bryson joined the Navy in 2000 where he enlisted as an undesignated airman. He served in Jacksonville, Fl at VP-30. His next duty was with Special Projects. He deployed for five years to OIF and OEF. CPT Bryson reenlisted in Pakistan in 2004. CPT Bryson was the youngest person in the Na
CPT (MSSG) Andrew Bryson
CPT Bryson joined the Navy in 2000 where he enlisted as an undesignated airman. He served in Jacksonville, Fl at VP-30. His next duty was with Special Projects. He deployed for five years to OIF and OEF. CPT Bryson reenlisted in Pakistan in 2004. CPT Bryson was the youngest person in the Navy to achieve the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist pin. He was an Aviation Electronics Technician with a specialty in Communications and Radar. CPT Bryson was also one of a few members of a Security Force Team.
CPT Bryson joined the Mississippi State Guard in Aug 2017 where he began with the 310th MP Battalion. CPT Bryson was commissioned as a 2nd LT and began his tenure as the Assistant Public Affairs Officer in late 2019. CPT Bryson assumed command of the PAO office in August of 2021. MSSG awards include: Commendation Award, Award of Merit, and Longevity Award.
CPT Bryson received a B.S. from LSU with a degree in Sport Administration with a concentration in Leadership. He is currently the CEO of Gridiron Football since 2014 and has received numerous awards for his work as a sport journalist and football scout including a Key To A City.
Staff Judge Advocate
Staff Judge Advocate
Staff Judge Advocate
MAJ (MSSG) Reginal Blackledge
MAJ Blackledge went to Northeast Jones High School in Laurel, Mississippi, and then to Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, MS. While working as a Radiologic Technologist he went part time to William Carey College and got my BS in Radiologic Technology. He began law school at Mississippi College Scho
MAJ (MSSG) Reginal Blackledge
MAJ Blackledge went to Northeast Jones High School in Laurel, Mississippi, and then to Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, MS. While working as a Radiologic Technologist he went part time to William Carey College and got my BS in Radiologic Technology. He began law school at Mississippi College School of Law in 1998 and graduated in 2001,and was admitted to the MS Bar that year. The Major has been a Public Defender, a Prosecutor, and has served as a Municipal Judge since 2018.
Inspector General
Staff Judge Advocate
Staff Judge Advocate
COL (MSSG) Curtis Burchfield
Curtis Dean Burchfield graduated from Delta State University with an Educational Specialist Degree in 2007. Burchfield is a Lifetime Alumni of Delta State University located in Cleveland, Mississippi. Mr. Burchfield also holds a Master of Education Degree from the University of Mississippi and Bachelor of Scie
COL (MSSG) Curtis Burchfield
Curtis Dean Burchfield graduated from Delta State University with an Educational Specialist Degree in 2007. Burchfield is a Lifetime Alumni of Delta State University located in Cleveland, Mississippi. Mr. Burchfield also holds a Master of Education Degree from the University of Mississippi and Bachelor of Science Degree College of Education from Mississippi State University. Mr. Burchfield began his career in teaching at Pontotoc High School in 1982. During seventeen years at the secondary level he taught social studies education classes ranging in grades eighth to twelve. In 1996 Burchfield began to teach history as an adjunct instructor for Itawamba Community College’s Tupelo Campus. Beginning in 2000 he was hired as a full time instructor of history and geography on Itawamba Community College’s main campus in Fulton, Mississippi. Mr. Burchfield became Social Science Division Chair at the beginning of 2002 and continued with this administrative role until the end of the academic year 2017 with his retirement. During his career at ICC Burchfield was the recipient of the following awards, Selected by former students to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2004. Selected as Teacher of the Year from Pontotoc High School by Northeast Mississippi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa 1997. Knight Templars Eye Foundation. 1999. Lamplighter Award Excellence in Teaching in Community and Junior Colleges, 2001 Humanities Teacher Award by the Mississippi Humanities Council. 2002 Itawamba Community College’s Meritorious Achievement Award, 2007. William Winter Scholar 2013. Mississippi Legislature: Higher Education Appreciation Day Working for Academic Excellence, Outstanding Faculty Honoree 2012. He is the recipient of the State Guard Association of the United States Officer of the Year 2019. Mr. Burchfield has designed the American History I and American History II survey courses for online education during the beginning of Itawamba Community College’s conception of E-Learning. He has also designed the first World Regional Geography online courses utilizing the Blackboard teaching platform for Itawamba Community College. While Chair of Social Science Division, Burchfield aided with implementing electronic record keeping and submitting reports, semester schedules etc to various Academic Administrators. With the college switching to the Canvas online teaching platform, Burchfield redesigned the Geography course. He is a State Certified Blackboard instructor and continues to receive updated training using the Canvas Platform for Online instruction. Burchfield has taught traditional and online courses for Blue Mountain College a private church related four year college located in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. LTC (MS) Burchfield has served in the Mississippi State Guard since 2014 in the following slots: 210th BN S1, 2nd BDE S1, Commander 210th BN, and 2nd BDE XO. Burchfield also taught with Delta State University on their Civil War Graduate Seminars conducted at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Brice’s Crossroads and Natchez for ten years.
Mr. Burchfield retired on May 31st 2017 with 36 years’ service in public education in the state of Mississippi. He is married to Rita Reece Burchfield for 28 years. They have two sons, two daughter-in-laws, three granddaughters and one grandson. He is a Sunday school teacher for the Adult and young married couples classes at Center Baptist Church in Blue Springs, MS. During his spare time he manages the family farm of timber and row crops.
Provost Marshall
Staff Judge Advocate
Provost Marshall
COL (MSSG) Richard Jones
110th Battalion Commanding Officer
110th Battalion Commanding Officer
110th Battalion Commanding Officer
LTC (MSSG) Stephan Saint
210th Battalion Commanding Officer
110th Battalion Commanding Officer
110th Battalion Commanding Officer
LTC (MSSG) Smith
310th Battalion Commanding Officer
110th Battalion Commanding Officer
310th Battalion Commanding Officer
LTC (MSSG) George F. Manley
LTC Manley began his military career in 1985. He served on active duty in England at RAF Upper Heyford until 1988, supporting the 20th TFW's F-111 mission. He then transitioned to the Mississippi Air National Guard and serving in both the 186 ARW & 172 AW until his retirement in 2008. He retired as a Senior Airc
LTC (MSSG) George F. Manley
LTC Manley began his military career in 1985. He served on active duty in England at RAF Upper Heyford until 1988, supporting the 20th TFW's F-111 mission. He then transitioned to the Mississippi Air National Guard and serving in both the 186 ARW & 172 AW until his retirement in 2008. He retired as a Senior Aircraft Maintenance Technician as well as a Maintenance Operations Controller.
LTC Manley was commissioned in the MSSG in 2009 as a 2nd LT. During his career in the MSSG, he has served as S3 Operations Officer, S2 Intel Officer, Executive and Commanding officer at both the Battalion and Brigade levels.,
LTC Manley is a graduate of the Community College of the Air Force with a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology. He is also a graduate of William Carey University school of Business with a concentration in Management & Marketing.
110th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
110th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
110th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
CSM (MSSG) Chad Singleton
210th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
110th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
110th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
CSM (MSSG) Miller
310th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
110th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
310th Battalion Command Sergeant Major
CSM (MSSG) Steven Wade