Rice nominated as ANG director

  • Published
  • By Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs
The Massachusetts National Guard is pleased to congratulate Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, on his presidential nomination as lieutenant general, director, Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau, Washington D.C., pending completion of the confirmation process by the United States Senate.

"I applaud General Rice on his nomination to serve as the director of the Air National Guard after 35 years of loyal and dedicated service as an Airman, and strong and steady leadership as the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard," said Gov. Charlie Baker. "General Rice has ensured our 9,000 Soldiers and Airmen have been accessible, capable and ready to protect the Commonwealth and nation and his record makes him exceptionally qualified to lead the critical mission of the Air National Guard."

As Air Guard director, Rice will be responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 108,000 Guard members and civilians in more than 88 flying wings and 175 geographically separated units across 213 locations throughout the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Rice is currently assigned as the adjutant general, Massachusetts National Guard. He oversees the strategic direction, administration and operation of the Massachusetts National Guard with an annual budget of $450 million to ensure over 9,000 joint Soldiers, Airmen and civilians are trained, equipped and mission-ready to support national security objectives overseas as well as protect life and property and preserve peace, order and public safety as directed in times of natural disaster and civil emergency within Massachusetts.

Rice was commissioned in 1980 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. Following graduate school, he attended pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, receiving pilot wings in 1982 and later served in England and Idaho where he flew the F-111 Aardvark.

Rice joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing in 1989 to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II. He served as the Squadron, Operations Group, Wing and State Air Guard commander. From 1995 to 2006, he was mobilized and deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and Pakistan. General Rice currently serves as chairman of the Air Guard Force Structure and Modernization committee of the Adjutants General Association of the United States. He also serves on the Reserve Forces Policy Board for the Department of Defense, as well as several General Officer Steering Committees for the National Guard. He is a member of the Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force.