Brigadier General Michael C. McDaniel

Brig. Gen. Michael C. McDaniel, Assistant Adjutant General for Homeland Security, Michigan National Guard, was appointed by the Governor as her Advisor on Homeland Security, on February 5, 2003. His promotion to Brigadier General was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 22, 2006.

He serves as the liaison between the Governor's Office and all federal, state and local agencies on homeland security.  He is responsible for developing statewide policy on homeland security preparedness and for coordinating the development of plans and training for homeland security on a statewide basis.  His duties include coordinating efforts to protect the state and its critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks, to ensure all state agencies have interoperable IT and communications systems, and to prepare for, prevent, and mitigate the consequences of terrorist threats or attacks. 

Brig. Gen. McDaniel serves as a member of the National Governors Association's Homeland Security Advisors Council and was elected to the eight-member Executive Committee in 2006. Brig. Gen. McDaniel was recently named by the Department of Homeland Security as Chair of the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council. Brig. Gen. McDaniel has been a member of the Michigan National Guard for over 23 years, previously serving as a military judge. 

As Michigan's Assistant Adjutant General for Homeland Security, Brig. Gen. McDaniel has command and control of the Homeland Security Directorate.  This Directorate includes Military Support to Civil Authorities, the 51^st WMD Civil Support Team, the Reconnaissance & Interdiction Detachment (RAID) Team, the Exercise Planning Group, the Counter-Drug Division including the Drug Demand Reduction Program and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Support, Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection, Emergency Communications, and the Michigan Volunteer Defense Force (500-member State Militia).  He is directly responsible for over 700 full and part-time soldiers and volunteers who serve as the "First Responders" for the Michigan National Guard.

Brig. Gen. McDaniel has developed and led a number of large-scale Homeland Security exercises and commanded a multinational operation, MEDCEUR/RESCUER 2004. This US Army Europe, (USAREUR) sponsored international military exercise focused on crisis relief operations and brought together over 2000 troops from Germany, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Armenia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Azerbaijan and the United States.  The exercise was the first major military training event for the Baltic States since joining NATO.  The successful completion of the exercise created synergy between these great nations and established a basis for joint relief operations thereby enhancing the global fight against terrorism. 

In May of 2005, Brig. Gen. McDaniel sponsored, and served as Exercise Co-Director of Exercise Vigilant State (EVS) with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).  EVS was a full-scale exercise designed to coordinate the joint response to a Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS).  This exercise included over twenty-six federal, state, county, and local agencies from the State of Michigan, federal agencies and military support from the Michigan National Guard, utilizing both Air and Army assets, including the Michigan Army National Guard Quick Reaction Force (QRF), and both fixed and rotary wing air assets. 

Brig. Gen. McDaniel served as the Michigan Exercise Director for ARDENT SENTRY 2006 (AS06), a national homeland security exercise, sponsored by NORAD-USNORTHCOM in May of 2006.  This was the first national level exercise since Hurricane Katrina.  It was designed to test the ability of Federal, State, and local agencies to respond to Incidents of National Significance under the National Response Plan, including the ability to mobilize and deploy Department of Defense resources and coordinate response efforts with international partners.  The Michigan venue was a critical part of the exercise and accounted for a significant portion of the training audience.

Previously, Brig. Gen. McDaniel was the Assistant Attorney General for Litigation, in the Executive Division of the Michigan Department of Attorney General.  His duties included reviewing and providing recommendations to the Attorney General on all civil and criminal actions proposed to be initiated by the department in state or federal trial courts, and evaluating and providing recommendations to the Attorney General on all proposed settlements of every court case. Brig. Gen. McDaniel was responsible for special projects, such as anti-terrorism legislation, forming the hate crimes prosecution team, and supervising the prosecution of internet tobacco sales to minors.

Brig. Gen. McDaniel has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Bonaventure University, a Juris Doctorate degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the Army War College, and a Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Security) degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.