Announcing the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus!

James Hoyer currently serves as the West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General, where he leads more than 6,500 men and women of the West Virginia National Guard. He is responsible for the training, development, readiness, and safety of these Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen. Hoyer is a Charleston native and graduated from the University of Charleston. He has been a West Virginia Guardsman for more than 37 years and works on making the West Virginia National Guard an exceptional place for men and women to have a meaningful career serving the State and Nation while raising a family.

The West Virginia National Guard plays a key role in the defense of our country, within the State, and interests around the world. Together, with active military forces, the West Virginia National Guard has supported activities as part Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, along with training and operational missions in Africa and Peru. Since the attacks of 9/11, more than 12,000 West Virginia National Guard members have deployed overseas. Additionally, the West Virginia National Guard supports State and national emergency management and homeland security missions. The West Virginia National Guard’s economic impact to West Virginia exceeds $536 million.