Leaders

Brigadier General Lawrence “Larry” Muennich is the Assistant Adjutant General - Army of the Indiana National Guard. Brig. Gen. Muennich has served 31 years as an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer. He enlisted in the Army National Guard in January 1993 and attended Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Moore, GA. He then served three years enlisted as an 11B Infantryman and 19D Cavalry Scout.

Brig. Gen. Muennich received his Officers Commission in May 1996 through Eastern Kentucky University ROTC. He completed the Aviation Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Qualification Course at Fort Novosel, Alabama, in 1998. He was assigned platoon leader Company B 1-147th Command Aviation Battalion in Shelbyville, Ind.

In 2001, Brig. Gen. Muennich was assigned as operations officer to Task Force 211, where he was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Spring. In 2004, he served as the Chief of Current Operations for the 37th Brigade Combat Team, where he was deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian. Following his tour to Kosovo, he was deployed to Bosnia as the Theatre Security Officer supporting NATO Headquarters Sarajevo. In 2006, Brig. Gen. Muennich completed the Aviation Officer Career Course at Fort Novosel, Alabama, and was assigned as the Company Commander of Company C 1-137th Air Assault Battalion. In 2011, he served as the Brigade Aviation Officer for the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, where he was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. In 2016, Brig. Gen. Muennich took command of the 2-238th General Support Aviation Battalion and deployed to Kosovo as part of NATO Operations in the region. In 2019, Brig. Gen. Muennich was selected to command the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade. Following his command, Brig. Gen. Muennich was chosen to serve as the Executive Officer for the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Muennich’s other assignments include S1 and XO for the 2-238th GSAB, Assistant S3, S3, and executive officer for the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade, Indiana Army National Guard State Aviation Officer and Director of Reserve Integration in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington D.C.

Brig. Gen. Muennich is a Senior Army Aviator with over 1,700 flight hours. He is qualified to fly the UH-1 Iroquois and UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft. He has five overseas deployments in support of our nation. He is a Graduate with Distinction from the Air War College in residence. His awards include the Bronze Star, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, and the Honorable Order of Saint Michael.

Bio posted May 15, 2024.

Brigadier General Justin Mann is the Director of the Joint Staff for the Indiana National Guard. He leads the integration of strategic and joint staff issues for 11,500 Soldiers and 2,000 Airmen of the Indiana National Guard. His span of responsibility includes managing an annual budget of over $550 million, 53 armories, 2 air bases, and a maneuver training center. He ensures staff oversight and operational readiness of a Division headquarters, two air wings, five brigades, and three separate brigade-level units in the Indiana National Guard.

General Mann entered the military upon his commission as an armor second lieutenant from Purdue ROTC in 1995. COL Mann served in various leadership positions while on active duty stationed in Vilseck Germany, Fort Knox KY, Fort Riley KS and Tank and Automotive Command, Warren MI. After 8 years of active duty, he joined the Indiana National Guard as a TAC officer at the Indiana Military Academy.

Prior to his present position he served as Commander, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard. His other previous assignments were Executive Officer, 76th IBCT, Squadron Commander, 1-152nd Cavalry, Executive Officer 1-151st Infantry, Executive Officer 113th Sustainment Battalion and Assistant S3, 76th IBCT (Operation Iraqi Freedom).

He earned a bachelor’s of arts from Purdue University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College. His decorations include Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Commendation Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.

Colonel Chris Mabis currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Indiana Army National Guard. Col. Mabis began his military career as an enlisted Combat Engineer in 1989. He joined the Indiana Army National Guard as an Infantryman in 1992 and commissioned as an infantry officer in 1996 from Officer Candidate School.

Command assignments include Brigade Commander, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during Operation Joint Forge in Kosovo; Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry and Commander, C Company, 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Other assignments include Brigade Operations Officer for 76th IBCT, Battalion Operations Officer for 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, and Battalion Administrative Officer for 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry during Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Col. Mabis also served as the J5, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, J1, Director of Personnel, Secretary of the General Staff, Officer Strength Manager, Company Executive Officer, Mortar Platoon Leader and Rifle Platoon Leader.

Col. Mabis holds Masters Degrees from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and the Army War College. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University and is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College.

Notable awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, the Kosovo Presidential Medal of Merit, the Italian Commemorative Cross for Foreign Peace Operations, the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

CW5 Ronald L. Baird Jr. was appointed as the 5th Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) of the Indiana National Guard (INNG) by Brigadier General R. Dale Lyles in May 2020. As the CCWO, he serves as the Senior Warrant Officer Advisor to The Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard on all matters pertaining to policies, programs, and actions impacting the warrant officer cohort, including professional development, promotions, assignments, incentives, morale, discipline, performance, strength and recruiting programs. Prior to his appointment, CW5 Baird served as the G4 Senior Maintenance Officer for the 38th Infantry Division.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, CW5 Baird earned his bachelor’s degree in General Studies, Technology Leadership and Management from Roger Williams University in 2011. He was a 2002 graduate of the Warrant Officer Candidate School, Fort Rucker, Alabama where he received his appointment. Additionally, in 2015 CW5 Baird earned a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification from the Indiana Army National Guard.

CW5 Baird began his career in the Indiana Army National Guard in 1987 as a mechanic in the 1-151 Infantry Battalion. He has held multiple command and staff positions throughout his 32 years of service, to include serving as the Battalion Maintenance Technician at Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 113th Brigade Support Battalion; S4, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 113th Brigade Support Battalion; Rear Detachment Commander, Company B, 113th Brigade Support Battalion; Senior Maintenance Technician, Headquarters Indiana National Guard J4; and Senior Maintenance Officer, 38th Infantry Division, G4. Additionally, since 2009 he helped train over a thousand Warrant Officer Candidates in leadership skills at the 138th Regional Training Institute’s Warrant Officer Candidate School as Commander and Instructor.

CW5 Baird has deployed as the Battalion Maintenance Technician, Headquarters, Headquarters Company 113th Brigade Support Battalion, 76th Infantry Brigade to Afghanistan and as the G4 Senior Maintenance Officer, 38th Infantry Division to Kuwait.

Command Sergeant Major Joshua A. Brown serves as the State Command Sergeant Major of the Indiana National Guard.

He mobilized to Kosovo from October 2022 to July 2023 with the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) in support of Operation Joint Guardian under the command of NATO to provide a safe, secure environment and to ensure freedom of movement for all Kosovo citizens, per the mandate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999.

Command Sgt. Maj. Brown began his military career by enlisting in the Indiana Army National Guard as a 11B Infantryman in 1997. His command assignments include First Sergeant, C Troop (Long Range Reconnaissance), 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry; First Sergeant, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry; Command Sergeant Major, 2nd Battalion, 152nd Infantry and Command Sergeant Major, 76th IBCT.

He has served in every Infantry leadership position from Fire Team Leader to Command Sergeant Major. Other assignments include Long-Range Surveillance Team Leader and Operations Sergeant Major. He has served large portions of his career in Long-Range Reconnaissance units. In addition to all levels of Professional Military Education, Command Sgt. Maj. Brown is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeant Major’s Academy, and attended military education including Ground Reconnaissance Course, Airborne School, Jumpmaster School and Pathfinder School.

His awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two oakleaf clusters), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Pathfinder Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge.