BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Maj. Gen. John Haas became Florida’s new adjutant general during a change-of-command ceremony at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center on April 22.
After thanking Gov. Ron DeSantis for his confidence in giving him “the opportunity and the immense responsibility of leading the Florida National Guard, Haas said, “I take command responsibility and accountability very seriously and commit fully to the continued readiness and care of our great Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen.”
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who participated in the passing of the organizational color as well as the inspection of assembled troops with Haas and Eifert, said Haas was an important part of the Guard’s recruiting and retention efforts the last four years.
“Despite nationwide recruiting shortfalls, Gen. Haas helped increase the Florida Army Guard by more than 1,100 service members,” Nuñez said. “He has also improved retention to the third best of the 54 states and territories in the National Guard.
“Gov. DeSantis and I are familiar with his outstanding leadership, and we look forward to his command of the 12,000 soldiers and airmen of the Florida National Guard.”
Haas, who has been the assistant adjutant general-Army and commander of the Florida Army National Guard, assumed command from the retiring Maj. Gen. James Eifert, who served as adjutant general since April 6, 2019.
“Today, I could not be more proud or pleased to turn the reigns of this great organization over to one of your most highly decorated and respected leaders, Maj. Gen. John Haas,” Eifert said. “Gen. Haas has commanded at every level of our organization as the lieutenant governor mentioned. He has sweated, toiled and spilled his blood for the nation through numerous combat deployments. He is a warrior leader and the perfect person to lead you into a dangerous and challenging future, with many threats growing in size and sophistication around the world.”
Haas said Eifert and Eifert’s wife, Beth, were an incredible leadership team and thanked them for being “cherished friends and wonderful neighbors.” He then thanked Eifert for his leadership as adjutant general, saying, “Over the past four years, your extraordinary stewardship of this
organization through some of the most devastating hurricanes in Florida’s recorded history, historic pandemic response and unyielding security of our coastal borders, while continuously deploying ready forces in support of federal mission requirements both at home and abroad, has been nothing short of remarkable. Your efforts have directly improved the lives of our Florida citizens at home and preserved America’s interests around the world.”
Three retired adjutant generals were in attendance: Ronald Harrison (March 1992-November 2001), Douglas Burnett (November 2001-June 2010) and Emmett “Buddy” Titshaw (June 2010-March 2015). To them, Haas said, “This organization owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude for your legacy of leadership and selfless service. I personally am grateful to each of you for your valued mentorship and your years of support.”
Haas thanked family and friends in attendance before recognizing his wife and children.
“A special thanks to my amazing and beautiful wife, Lisa, and our two wonderful children, Raleigh and Sydney. It’s through your tireless support and endless sacrifices that I’m able to serve,” Haas said. “It will be your continued support that will carry us through the journey ahead.”
The new adjutant general then turned his attention to the men and women of the Florida National Guard.
“For nearly 458 years, you have been Florida’s force, made up of 12,000 men and women from different backgrounds and walks of life who share a common trait: the willingness to sacrifice in the service of others,” Haas said. “You have answered the call of our nation, deploying to the front lines on the battlefields in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and here at home you have answered our governor’s call, supporting our citizens in their hour of greatest need.
“You have been a force for good. Our state and nation are better because of you. That is who you are. You should be proud of yourselves, as I am proud of you and proud to share the title of Florida Guardsman with you. I sincerely look forward to soldiering and serving with each of you as we continue to answer the call of our great state and nation.”
Haas has served in a variety of command and staff positions, including the role of director of strategic plans, policies, programs, serving as the principal adviser to the adjutant general and joint-force headquarters staff. He also commanded the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and completed three combat tours (two in Southwest Asia and one in Grenada).
A promise fulfilled
Eifert said when he was named as adjutant general, succeeding Michael Calhoun (March 2015-April 2019), he promised the governor that he wouldn’t let him down.
“I’m pretty confident the governor would agree with my assessment that that promise was fulfilled,” Eifert said.
Eifert proceeded to summarize some of what the Florida Guard has been involved in the past four years, starting by saying that the Guard was activated 18 times for emergency relief operations in Florida. He said that was the highest level of National Guard support since World War II.
The retiring adjutant general said some of the situations in which the men and women of the Florida National Guard responded to were wildfires in Chipola, the reservoir breach at Manatee County’s Piney Point phosphate plant and the COVID-19 pandemic. They also were called upon to assist in the aftermath of six hurricanes: Dorian, Sally, Elsa, Ida, Ian and Nicole.
‘Those unplanned state active-duty call-ups totaled over 653,000 man days executed in just this past four-year period,” Eifert said. “To provide context for that number, from 31 years ago, when Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida, to the day I assumed command in 2019, the Florida National Guard executed about 700,000 man days in state emergency response, and in only the last four years, we have nearly equaled that total. That is nearly 30 years of domestic-response operations packed into a four-year period.”
Eifert said 400 members of the Guard are deployed in support of 11 prisons within the Florida Department of Corrections. Members of the Guard are also assisting state and federal agencies with illegal migrants along the southern coast.
The Guard has provided its support outside the confines of Florida as well.
“Since April 2019, the Florida National Guard has deployed about a third of our entire force on six-month to one-year deployments,” Eifert said. “Over 4,000 soldiers and airmen from 53 units across the state deployed to every single geographical combatant command on the globe.”
The Florida National Guard has been a part of Operations Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield, Atlantic Resolve, Allies Refuge, Freedom’s Sentinel and Noble Eagle as well as the European Deterrence Initiative. Eifert said the Guard members battled well-known, violent extremist organizations as well as lesser-known – but no less violent — extremist groups in partner nations, such as Chad and Burkina Faso.
“Florida National Guard soldiers were also training the Ukrainians last year when Russian troops invaded their peaceful neighbor,” Eifert said. “The world has witnessed the quality of that training that you provided through the steadfast resistance and military acumen that the Ukrainians have demonstrated in defense of their homeland.”
Eifert said the Florida National Guard currently has 400 members from 18 units mobilized abroad, adding that approximately another 30l0 will be mobilized before the end of the year.
“Finally, you have made the world a safer place — specifically in our Western Hemisphere — through your leadership and participation in a state-partnership program,” Eifert said. “With our regional security system partner nations of Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Granada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with our other South American partner Guyana, you have forged strong relationships through subject matter, expert exchanges, exercises and leadership-development training.”
Eifert said as he thought about “the incredible journey” he and the men and women of the Florida National Guard shared the last four years, he was “reminded of and humbled by your courage, strength and determination.”
“It has been an honor to serve alongside such an extraordinary group of men and women,” he said. “You have faced truly unprecedented challenges and dangers with bravery and selfless service, always putting the mission and your battle buddies first. Your dedication to duty and your unwavering commitment to our state and nation have been a constant source of inspiration to me and Beth. I am proud to have called you my brothers and sisters in arms.”
Nuñez presented Eifert with the Distinguished Service Medal (awarded by the president) and the Florida Cross (awarded by the governor) as well as presenting his wife with the Distinguished Service Medal (awarded by the governor). She said she and DeSantis wished to express their thanks to Eifert for serving the Florida National Guard, state of Florida and nation “with the greatest integrity and honor.”
“Gen. Eifert’s 41-year distinguished career is one to celebrate and to honor,” Nuñez said. “On behalf of the state of Florida and the governor, I thank you for your incredible service and wish you and your family Godspeed as you retire and begin your next journey.”
Eifert and his wife will retire to Melrose. They have two children, who both hold the rank of first lieutenant: Austin, who serves in the Army, and Kathryn, who serves in the Air Force.
