A 1989 graduate of Arkansas State University has achieved the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army National Guard. Brigadier General Glenn Hagler’s promotion was recognized at a ceremony Friday morning in Kennett, Missouri.
General Hagler’s military career started with the 875th Engineer Battalion at Arkansas State. He says his time at ASU fostered his interests in history, political science, and journalism. Hagler says the education he got at ASU has helped him throughout his life and career. He put his journalistic skills to work for a time as a sports reporter for the Jonesboro Sun and other area newspapers.
After going through the ROTC program at ASU and graduating from the university, the Sikeston, Missouri, native transferred to the Missouri National Guard, which he has served in several capacities through the years. His career includes deployments to Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. He is currently working at the Pentagon on resource and policy issues in the Guard’s National Bureau.
About the promotion, Hagler says, “It’s certainly a reflection of the experiences that I’ve had with so many great airmen and soldiers throughout my almost 29 year career. I’m so looking forward to representing them and doing the very best job possible in Washington.”
Hagler recognized family members and friends who were present at Friday’s ceremony. He paid special tribute to his wife, Carla, who is also a Guard member and has herself been deployed to Kosovo and Qatar. Together, they have weathered each others’ deployments while raising two young sons.
General Hagler said one of the reasons that he wanted to hold this ceremony in Kennett was to honor the soldiers and veterans of the 1137th Military Police Company and their community. Hagler said, “A lot of good things happened for me, personally and professionally, in Kennett, Missouri, and I just feel a part of that community. This gives me the opportunity to thank the people there in the Military Police and National Guard community for their support.”