ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - 4,000 National Guard Officers and defense industry representatives will be coming to Atlantic City to attend the 122nd National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) General Conference and Exhibition, Sept. 12 to 14. Governor Christine Todd Whitman will be among the featured speakers at the conference, which also includes the Army Chief of Staff, General Eric Shinseki and Atlantic City Mayor James Whalen.  NGAUS is a 50,000-plus member organization representing Army and Air National Guard officers.

The conference will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center.  More than 400 defense-related firms will display products and services at the exhibition, which opens Sept. 11. Atlantic City last hosted the NGAUS conference in 1958. Local economic officials expect this year’s 4,000 attendees to spend $5.2 million in Atlantic City and the surrounding region.

Other speakers at the conference include General Charles Robertson, commander of U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and General John W. Hendrix, commander of U.S. Army Forces Command in Atlanta. The two major party candidates for President of the United States have been invited to speak as well, but have not confirmed their appearance. Lt. Gen. Russell C. Davis, National Guard Bureau chief and Lt. Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, assistant Army vice chief of staff will also address the conference.

“The NGAUS conference has always been a coveted platform to talk to the National Guard community,” said retired Maj. Gen. Richard C. Alexander, NGAUS executive director. “Where else can defense leaders reach thousands of Guard officers at one place to discuss issues that matter to them back home? That is what makes our conference such an important event.”

Major General Paul Glazar, The Adjutant General of New Jersey and a member of the Governor’s Cabinet currently serves as the NGAUS Vice-President for Army. 

For additional information on the 122nd General Conference, please visit: http://www.ngaus.org/resources/ngausconf2000.asp or contact Colonel John Dwyer, 609-530-6939.