Land Component Commander
Brig. Gen. Michael Ake
Brig. Gen. Michael Ake is the Land Component Commander of the Washington Army National Guard, at Camp Murray, Wash. The Land Component Command is accountable to the adjutant general to ensure the Army National Guard commands and their subordinate units are prepared to respond to any domestic or foreign contingency.
BG Ake enlisted in the Army Reserves as a medic in September 1987. He commissioned as an Infantry Officer from the Washington State National Guard Officer Candidate School Program in 1995 as the Distinguished Honor Guard.
BG Ake’s key leadership assignments include Rifle Platoon Leader Delta Company 3rd Battalion 161st Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), Commander Alpha Company 2-414th Regiment 104th Division, Commander Bravo Company 156th Information Operations Battalion, Commander 122d Public Affairs Operation Center, and Commander 56th Theater Information Operations Group (TIOG).
BG Ake’s staff assignments include Chief of Staff -Joint Forces Headquarters WANG, J1 Policy Officer JFHQ, Executive Officer 56th TIOG, Deputy G1 Army Element, Operations Officer 56th TIOG, J1 Special Operations Detachment-Pacific, Operations Officer 2-104th Division, S1 205th Regt, and OCS Instructor 1-205th Regt.
BG Ake’s mobilizations include Liaison Officer 3rd Brigade 2d Infantry Division (Stryker) Iraq in 2006 and Commander Forward Operating Base Meymaneh with concurrent duties as the OIC Police Mentor Team Faryab, Afghanistan in 2008.
BG Ake is a graduate of the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course (Commandant’s List), Infantry Captain’s Career Course, Military Police Captain Career’s Course, Army Intermediate Level Education, Information Operations Qualification Course, Public Affairs Qualification Course (Honor Graduate), Defense Support of Civil Authorities Phase II Course (Honor Graduate), Joint Task Force Commander’s Course, Dual Status Commander’s Course, Army War College (AWC), and the International Fellowship AWC Continuing Education program.
BG Ake’s civilian education includes an Associate’s of Arts Degree from Pierce College, Bachelor of Art Degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.
BG Ake is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, FBI LEEDS Executive Program, DEA Commander’s Course, and the Executive Certification Program from the Washington State Criminal Justice Center.
BG Ake’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal (5), Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal (ISAF), Joint Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, (2), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (6), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Silver Hour Glass and M device), National Defense Ribbon (bronze star), Army Service Ribbon, Canadian Jump Wings, the Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. BG Ake is also the 2018 Howard O Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year.
BG Ake is a retired Interim Chief of the Police Tacoma Police Department where he served as a law enforcement officer for over 32 years.
BG Ake is the current elected chair of the Western Regional Counterdrug Training Advisory Board. He also serves on the Readiness Sub-committee for the National Guard Bureau’s Information Readiness Advisory Council.
Former Land Component Commanders
BG Christopher Fowler - Oct 2012 - Nov 2017
BG Bruce Linton - Nov 2017 - Jan 2019
BG Bryan Grenon - Jan 2019 - April 2024