GaDOD First Friday

Birdsong, Padgett, Seymour Recognized
Georgia Lawmaker, Two Guard Generals
Selected for NGAUS Honors

A Georgia politician and two members of the state’s Department of Defense have been chosen to receive national honors for their continuing support of the National Guard.

State Rep. Ken Birdsong, Chairman of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee was selected to receive the 2004 Charles Dick Medal of Merit, the second highest award presented by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS). Retired Brig. Gen. Douglas Padgett, former commander of the Georgia Air National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Joel W. Seymour, commander Georgia State Defense Force (GaSDF), have been named recipients of the National Guard Association Meritorious Service Award.

The association presents these awards annually. They will be presented on Sept. 15 at NGAUS’s 126th General Conference in Las Vegas.

The Charles Dick Medal of Merit recognizes outstanding contributions to the National Guard by an elected representative at the state or national level. As chairman of the Defense and Veteran Affairs Committee, Birdsong has been an advocate of policies and programs that strengthen the Georgia National Guard and benefit its Soldiers and Airmen. He has been instrumental in efforts to renovate outdated National Guard facilities throughout the state and has introduced legislation that provides service related educational benefits to Georgia’s Citizen-Soldiers.

Birdsong also helped enact the first National Guard pension program in state history. He is an advocate of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy, a program for “at-risk” Georgia youth. In 2003, he received the Patrick Henry Award from NGAUS, which recognizes a civic leader who provided outstanding service to the armed forces of the United States, the National Guard, or the National Guard Association.

Padgett and Seymour were recognized for their continuing contribution to the Guard and NGAUS over an extended period of time while serving as a member of the armed forces.

Padgett, a 36-year Air Guard veteran, served as assistant adjutant general and air commander from 1991-1996. He began his service with the Guard at Savannah’s 165th Airlift Wing, ultimately becoming wing commander. Padgett continues to be active with the National Guard and the Guard Association. He is retired from Delta Airlines.

Seymour, who commands the 600-member, all-volunteer GaSDF, serves as president of the State Guard Association of the United States. He became SDF’s commander in October 1994.Seymour previously served as director of plans and training, for the Army Guard, from 1988 to 1994 at HQ STARC. Seymour has provided continuous leadership to the GSDF resulting in the organization becoming an integral part of the defense posture of state of Georgia.

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