Vermont General Assembly elected Brig. Gen Harder new Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard. Courtesy from the State House on Thursday.
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont General Assembly, meeting in joint session Thursday, elected Brigadier General Henry "Hank" Harder as the next Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard.
The Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard is elected by a majority vote of the Vermont General Assembly meeting in joint session of the House and Senate. Voting is conducted by secret ballot, and the office carries a two-year term. Brig. Gen. Harder will assume duties effective March 1, 2026.
“I am honored to have been elected by the Vermont State Legislature to serve in this important position. I look forward to serving our Soldiers and Airmen as their new Adjutant General. A special thank you to Maj. Gen. Knight for his tireless and effective leadership, in addition to his mentorship & friendship over the last seven years. His leadership has continued to move our organization forward in a very positive way and I plan to keep that trajectory going," said Harder after the election.
Vermont is unique in that the Legislature elects its Adjutant General. The office serves a two-year term and oversees readiness, deployment, personnel, and emergency response operations for Vermont’s Army and Air National Guard forces. Candidates must meet statutory military eligibility requirements, including senior rank and qualifications for federal recognition as a general officer.
Harder's opponent in the race, Colonel Roger "Brent" Zeigler congratulated Harder on a well-run campaign. The two long-time colleagues ran a very collegial race, often citing that they were "on same team, they were just running to decide who was the captain of the team." Zeigler will continue his role as a senior leader in the Vermont Army National Guard.
"I congratulate Brig. Gen. Harder on his selection as Adjutant General. I respect the decision of the General Assembly and remain committed to serving with honor in the Vermont National Guard. Our mission endures, and I will continue to support the readiness and strength of this organization under his leadership," said Zeigler.
Governor Phil Scott said: “Today, the Legislature elected the next Adjutant General to lead the Vermont National Guard. I want to congratulate Maj. General Henry (Hank) Harder on his election to lead our National Guard as Vermont’s next Adjutant and Inspector General. With over 35 years of service, I believe his understanding of the issues facing the Guard and Vermont will help him continue to build on the progress made in recent years.
“I also want to thank Col. Brent Zeigler for stepping up, putting his name forward for election, and his continued service to our state and country.
“Fortunately, retiring Adjutant General Greg Knight has left the Guard in a good place after serving in the role since 2019. General Knight has been a champion for raising awareness around mental health for our service members, veterans, and their families, and has worked to expand access to resources for those who need them. He’s also increased accountability and transparency by working closely with my team and the Legislature to keep us informed, and he’s helped us navigate historic flooding events, the pandemic, and cyber-attack attempts.
“I’m grateful for his leadership and service to Vermont and wish him and his family well in his next chapter.”
In 2019, lawmakers elected then-Colonel Gregory C. Knight, continuing Vermont’s longstanding legislative selection process for its senior uniformed military leader. Knight was re-elected twice, serving for seven years as the Adjutant General and attaining the rank of Major General.
The Adjutant General serves as commander of the Vermont Army National Guard and Vermont Air National Guard when not in federal service. The office is responsible for force readiness, personnel management, equipment modernization, and coordination with state leaders during emergencies such as natural disasters and public safety events. The Adjutant General also serves as the principal military advisor to the Governor of Vermont on National Guard matters.
The Vermont National Guard's citizen-soldiers and airmen serve communities across the state and support national defense missions at home and abroad. Guard members regularly assist with disaster response, infrastructure protection, overseas deployments, and community support missions.
For more information about the Vermont National Guard, visit the website or contact the State Public Affairs Officer
2.19.2026. Vermont National Guard
To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
