Brigadier General David Pritchett, an Alabama native and Auburn University graduate, was recognized as the new adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard at a change of command ceremony in Montgomery on Friday, Jan. 5.
Pritchett takes over the leadership position from Major General Sheryl Gordon, who retired after more than six years as adjutant general.
Pritchett, who started his military career with the Marine Corps in 1988, returns to his home state after serving as director of the Joint Staff of the Wyoming National Guard as well as a deputy commanding general for field artillery at the Fires Center for Excellence at Fort Sill.
Hundreds of National Guard members, former members, public officials, and others attended the program to see Gordon, Pritchett, and Gov. Kay Ivey participate in the flag presentations that commemorate the leadership change.
Ivey, as commander in chief of the National Guard, had picked Gordon as adjutant general in 2017 and named Pritchett as Gordon’s replacement when she announced her retirement in November.
In an interview before the ceremony and again during his remarks to the crowd, Pritchett talked about America’s challenges in dealing with China, Russia, and growing instability in the Middle East.
“We live in a very dangerous world,” Pritchett said. “I would argue that what’s going on in our world right now, we certainly have not seen anything on…
