BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker has re-appointed Major General L. Scott Rice as Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard. Rice has served as Adjutant General since April 2012.
Prior to being appointed Adjutant General, Rice served as the commander of Massachusetts Air National Guard and as the Air National Guard assistant to the commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe.
“Major General Rice has done a tremendous job leading our National Guard and ensuring our troops maintain the utmost level of preparedness to protect the Commonwealth and serve our nation,” said Baker. “Throughout the unprecedented winter, Major General Rice was instrumental to storm recovery efforts and repeatedly coordinated troops and resources to dig out communities in need and clear T tracks for commuters. Our administration is grateful for his service and confident he will continue to successfully lead the Massachusetts National Guard.”
“I commend Major General Rice for his strong leadership,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased that he will continue to work with the Baker-Polito Administration to oversee our brave men and women serving the Commonwealth and nation.”
“Major General Rice’s record of service to our nation and Commonwealth makes him exceptionally well qualified to continue to lead the critical mission of the Massachusetts National Guard,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett. “Under his leadership, the Guard is well positioned to carry on the proud traditions of the nation’s first state Guard.”
Rice oversees the administration and operation of approximately 9,000 Soldiers, Airmen and civilians of the Massachusetts National Guard. He ensures the Guard will continue to be a well-trained, equipped and mission-ready force to respond to a state emergency declared by the Governor, or be responsive to a national security mission.
Since 9/11 the Massachusetts National Guard has deployed more than 20,000 Soldiers and Airmen overseas helping keep our nation strong.
“It’s an honor and privilege for continued service as the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard. I look forward in extending the Minuteman tradition that started right here in Massachusetts 379 years ago,” said Rice. “I am grateful for the confidence Governor Baker has entrusted upon me and for the opportunity to lead the finest Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian professionals in the National Guard.”
Over the last several months, Rice worked closely with Baker’s administration to include several coordinated winter storm emergency activations including a January Blizzard that blanketed the commonwealth with record snowfalls.
The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency were heavily involved in the planning and execution of several state activations early in the year.
Rice was commissioned in 1980 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps’ program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He attended pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Texas.
In 1989, after nine years of active duty flying the F-111, Major General Rice joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard, 104th Fighter Wing to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II, serving as the fighter squadron commander, operations group commander and wing commander. Major General Rice has deployed during numerous Air Force operational conflicts, including: Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and Iraq. Major General Rice has also served as an Air Force commander in Kuwait, Jordan, Oman and Pakistan.
