Woonsocket Radio News Room

Governor McKee Announces Next Adjutant General and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard 

Governor Dan McKee (left) is joined by Brigadier General Andrew J. Chevalier (center), Chevalier's family, Major General Christopher P. Callahan (right), and retired Major General Reginald A. Centracchio (far right).

PROVIDENCE, RI — Today, Governor Dan McKee announced Brigadier General Andrew J. Chevalier as the next Adjutant General of Rhode Island and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard.

Brigadier General Chevalier is replacing Major General Christopher P. Callahan, who is retiring in January after decades of dedicated service to Rhode Island. 

“Brigadier General Chevalier is a well-rounded, proven leader with a track record of excellence in planning, management, and logistics,” said Governor Dan McKee. “His rise through the ranks has given him unique insight and perspective on how to best lead the National Guard. I am grateful to him and his family for their continued service, and I look forward to the years ahead for the Rhode Island National Guard.”

“I am truly honored to be selected as the 45th Rhode Island Adjutant General and look forward to serving with and commanding the incredible men and women of the Rhode Island National Guard,” said Brigadier General Chevalier.  “Major General Callahan is a remarkable leader, and his legacy will be remembered for years to come.”

Brigadier General Chevalier has more than 35 years of experience in the Rhode Island National Guard (RING) and currently serves as RING’s Director of the Joint Staff. He is responsible for overseeing the operations of more than 3,100 servicemembers. 

Brigadier General Chevalier was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1990 and went on to attend the United States Army Flight School. Chevalier has held various roles throughout his decorated career, including positions as RING’s Army Chief of Staff, Director of Operations, and Director of Personnel. Brigadier General Chevalier deployed to Iraq in 2005 as an Aviation Operations Officer and later in 2012 as the Aviation Battalion Commander, where he led more than 300 servicemembers and 36 aircraft during a nine-month deployment in Kuwait.

A Rhode Island native, Chevalier is a graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. He completed the Leadership in Homeland Security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2016 and holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College in Newport.

He is an active member of the National Guard Association of Rhode Island, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Army Aviation Association of America, and the Association of the United States Army. 

Governor McKee also extended his gratitude to Major General Callahan.

“General Callahan's impact on Rhode Island and our National Guard will last for generations to come, and his commitment to bettering our state should serve as an inspiration to all of us," the Governor added. "I congratulate him on a wonderful career, and wish him a happy and restful retirement."

The official transfer of authority will take place on January 31, 2025, at The Veterans Auditorium in Providence.