Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, left, retiring adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, laughs next to incoming Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson during a change of command and retirement ceremony on Sept. 15, 2024, in Bismarck. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
(North Dakota Monitor) -The North Dakota National Guard has a new adjutant general after a change of command and retirement ceremony in Bismarck.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson officially accepted command of the state’s military and emergency response force Sunday afternoon from Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, who is retiring after serving as adjutant general for more than eight years.
“Our military and emergency services are a team sport and I couldn’t ask for a better team,” Johnson said during the ceremony.
He also praised the state’s Guard soldiers and airmen in serving through extraordinary times over the last decade, which included the COVID-19 pandemic, overseas deployments and multiple statewide emergencies.
“Through these unprecedented times, you have been there for our state and nation, and you’ve never missed a mission,” he said. “There will be new and unprecedented challenges that we will face, and whether they are at home or around the world, we will face them as a team.”
Gov. Doug Burgum presided over the change of command ceremony and quoted World War II Gen. George S. Patton when describing Johnson and the state’s National Guard.
“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and the spirit of the man who leads that gains that victory,” Burgum said. “Brig. Gen. Johnson, today we bestow our confidence on you.”
Johnson also takes over the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, which responds to disasters and emergencies declared by the governor. The department is also composed of personnel from the Division of Homeland Security and Division of State Radio Communications.
Johnson completed 12 years of active duty service, which included multiple flight assignments with the Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command and Air Force Special Operations Command.
After his active duty career, Johnson joined the North Dakota National Guard and flew multiple aircraft including the MQ-1 Predator, C-21 and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft.
He also served as an Air Chief of Staff at the North Dakota National Guard Joint Force Headquarters and completed six overseas deployments during his career.
After being sworn in, the event’s focus shifted to pay respect and celebrate a two-star general’s longstanding and distinguished career.
Dohrmann served in the military for more than 40 years, including seven years on active duty before joining the North Dakota National Guard in 1991.
He was named the state’s deputy adjutant general in 2007 before deploying to Kosovo in 2009 where he commanded 2,000 military members in combined force, which included eight different countries.
During the ceremony, Dohrmann said he was struggling to make eye contact with his family seated in the first row because of the overwhelming display of love and emotion being reflected back at him.
“My daughter is just a mess and if I look at her, I will be a mess too, so I’m not going to look at my family, no offense,” he said.
Dohrmann praised the state’s federal and state lawmakers for working with him over the years on budgets and other initiatives. He also highlighted members of National Guard leadership and some of his former superior officers whom he learned from that were seated in the crowd.
Dohrman was presented with retirement commendations, a North Dakota flag that was flown at the state Capitol and a U.S. flag that was flown in Kosovo and at the state Capitol.
Watch the entire change of command and retirement ceremony on the North Dakota National Guard YouTube page.
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