Governor And First Lady Kemp Visit GA Guard Troops in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the Christmas holiday, today Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp visited Georgia National Guard troops deployed to the nation's capital in support of Joint Task Force-District of Columbia. They were accompanied by Insurance Commissioner John King (Major General, ret.); Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes; and Major General Dwayne Wilson, Adjutant General of the Georgia Guard. Spending several hours with Guardsmen at the DC Armory, the group of state leaders thanked the Georgia troops for their willingness to serve, especially during this holiday season. 

“Marty and I are always inspired by the brave men and women of the Georgia Guard who put service above self, and we want to thank these patriotic troops for all they're doing to secure our nation's capital,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As families gather to celebrate Christmas and the New Year, our thoughts and prayers will be with these servicemembers - and those throughout the world - who won't be with their loved ones for the holidays because they're keeping our nation and allies safe."

In September, Governor Kemp announced he would mobilize Georgia Guard troops in and around the nation's capital to aid in restoring public safety following the president's executive order declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia, dated August 11, 2025. The Georgia Guard has a long history of partnering with federal, state, and local agencies to respond to such emergency situations, both in the state and in other parts of the country, as well as in allied countries around the world without any compromise to the Guard's ability to respond to in-state needs. 

About the Georgia National Guard

The Georgia Guard is comprised of more than 14,000 Soldiers and Airmen supporting overseas and domestic missions. Its support roles in the various missions as part of Joint Task Force-District of Columbia do not impact its ability to support the state in the event of an emergency, such as a major weather event. During the response to Hurricane Helene last year, the Georgia National Guard provided support to nearly forty impacted counties while simultaneously participating in operations on six continents.