photo by: National Guard

Brig. Gen. David A. Weishaar

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has appointed the commander of the Kansas Air National Guard to replace Gen. Lee Tafanelli as adjutant general on March 31.

The adjutant general is the principal military adviser to the governor and oversees the adjutant general’s department, which includes the Kansas Army and Air National Guard. The adjutant general also serves as director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and director of Kansas Homeland Security.

David A. Weishaar, in addition to serving as commander of the Kansas Air National Guard, is currently an assistant adjutant general.

“General Weishaar is highly qualified and prepared to step up in this very important role,” Kelly said in a news release. “His depth of knowledge and years of service and training are just a few of the reasons why he’s an ideal choice to serve as our next adjutant general.”

Weishaar has served for over 39 years. From 2015 to 2018, he was commander of the 184th Intelligence Wing. He graduated from Friends University in 1992, according to his biography from the National Guard Bureau.

“It’s an honor to be appointed by Governor Kelly for this critical post,” Weishaar said in the release. “I look forward to leading a truly professional, dedicated team, one operating with a high level of readiness and efficiency in serving the people of Kansas.”

Tafanelli, who served as a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives before being appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback as adjutant general in 2011, is scheduled to resign on March 31.

“I want to thank Major General Tafanelli for his outstanding service to the people of Kansas and our nation, and for his steadfast leadership of such a critical part of our government operations,” Kelly said. “His efforts have aided Kansans in many ways, to include his direction of the state’s response in communities impacted by disasters such as tornadoes, flooding and more recently wildfires. He has served his state and nation well.”