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Westminster Resident Named Senior Enlisted Guard Leader

Carroll County Times

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- A Westminster resident and former director of housing and preservation services for the city of Westminster has been appointed to the highest enlisted position in the Maryland National Guard.

Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas B. Beyard was named senior enlisted leader of the Maryland National Guard on Jan. 21 by Maj. Gen. Linda L. Singh, the adjutant general of Maryland.

The senior enlisted leader is the principal adviser to the adjutant general for all enlisted affairs, including force structure management, leadership development, benefits programs and recognition, according to a news release from the Maryland National Guard. There are more than 4,600 enlisted soldiers and airmen in the Maryland National Guard.

"It's a great honor to be selected by the new Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Singh, for this important position," Beyard said in the prepared release. "I'm especially pleased to be able to continue working with her to improve the Maryland National Guard. My new role will expand my work to include all aspects of the Military Department including the Maryland Army National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard, Maryland Defense Force and Maryland Emergency Management Agency. I will be the eyes and ears for the adjutant general and do my best to represent the enlisted members of our organization. It is exciting times to a member of the Maryland National Guard."

Beyard brings more than 32 years of service and experience in the National Guard to his new position. His previous assignment was the Maryland Army National Guard command sergeant major.

Beyard replaced Chief Master Sgt. Glenn Hart, who will continue in his role as state command chief of the Maryland Air National Guard, according to the news release.

Beyard was a long-time employee of the city of Westminster, serving previously as its director of planning and public works.

Beyard also served as the command sergeant major for a unit which deployed to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007 for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. After a 400-day deployment to the Middle East as the command sergeant major for the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade in support of Operation New Dawn, the final phase of the war in Iraq, Beyard returned to work for the city of Westminster in August 2012, when he was given the job title of director of housing and preservation services.

He's been on a leave of absence from that position since he assumed the duties of command sergeant major of the Maryland Army National Guard on Oct. 1, 2013.
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Information from: Carroll County Times , http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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