Acting Commissioner Named for Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management

Adjutant General Selection Committee Announced

08 March 2012

Staff Photo of Rob McAleer

Rob McAleer, Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), will take over as Acting Commissioner.

AUGUSTA– Governor Paul LePage today announced succession plans for the Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management (DVEM) following retirement of Major General John W. Libby Major General Libby is resigning from the position of Adjutant General effective March 16th.

Rob McAleer, Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), will take over as Acting Commissioner. "Rob brings vast experience to this position, both as Director of MEMA and a retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps," said Governor LePage. "He will do a fine job leading the Department during this transition period."

Governor LePage also announced five names who will serve as the selection committee for the next Adjutant General. They are:

  • Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass - Commissioner Winglass is a retired Lieutenant General (O-9) in the United States Marine Corps, having served with distinction in a number of assignments, including Commanding General of a Force Service Support Group.
  • Public Safety Commissioner John Morris - Commissioner Morris is a retired Captain (O-6) in the United States Navy, with service as a Naval Attaché and the Commanding Officer of a U.S. Naval Base in South Korea.
  • William Dubord - Mr. Dubord is a retired Colonel (O-6) in the Maine Army National Guard and served for a number of years as the State Judge Advocate.
  • Gil Pelletier - Mr. Pelletier is a retired Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) in the United States Army and Maine Army National Guard and was recently appointed Aide-de-Camp to Governor LePage.
  • Sherriff Randall Liberty - Sherriff Liberty is the current Sherriff of Kennebec County and retired Command Sergeant Major (E-9) of the Maine Army National Guard. Sherriff Liberty deployed to Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror as a soldier in the National Guard.

A letter was sent on March 7th by the Governor to all current members of the Maine National Guard qualified under Maine law to serve as Adjutant General calling for applications. The Administration expects to announce the next nominee for Adjutant General in time for the Legislature's summer confirmation session.