Learn more about key leadership within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Learn more about the history of the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.
State Tuition Assistance Program
Learn more about a career with the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
LANSING, Mich., April 13, 2018 -- After 40 years of military service, Major General Burton K. Francisco retired from the Michigan Army National Guard. A ceremony with family and friends was held in his honor Saturday, April 14, in Lansing, Mich.
General Francisco was the Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command/United States Northern Command for National Guard matters and liaison to the Chief of National Guard Bureau. General Francisco is proud of his enlisted service in the Michigan Army National Guard from April 1978 through May 1983. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1983 through the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
General Francisco enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard in 1978; he has served as a Company Commander, Administrative Officer, Operations Officer, Commander, 51st Civil Support Team, Director of Human Resources, Director of the Joint Staff, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, and Commander of the 46th Military Police Command.
Francisco earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State College and a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
General Francisco’s military awards include: Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass; Army Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 5; Michigan Distinguished Service Medal; Michigan Legion of Merit with 1 Gold Oak Leaf Cluster; Michigan Service Medal with 1 Gold Oak Leaf Cluster; Michigan Outside United States Ribbon with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Michigan State Partnership Ribbon; and the Georgia Olympic Ribbon.
General Francisco and his wife Donna, have two children Staff Sgt. Chad Francisco (Kelli), and Senior Master Sgt. Karla Waichum (Mark).
LANSING, Mich. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule on drinking water standards for certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) on April 26, 2024.
LANSING, Mich. — Northern Strike (NS) 24-2, one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises, will be hosting a media day on August 9 at 10:00 a.m.
LANSING, Mich. – Northern Strike (NS) 24-2, one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises, is scheduled to take place across Michigan from August 3-17, 2024.
LANSING, Mich. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule on drinking water standards for certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) on April 26, 2024. Under these new standards, which became effective on June 25, 2024, some private drinking water wells that were previously sampled have been found to exceed the new maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). The U.S. Army is working to incorporate those standards into its restoration program under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
LANSING, Mich. — The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), based in Crane, Indiana is the lead agency for Silent Swarm 24, taking place July 15-26 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) in Alpena, MI.
LANSING, Mich. — Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center (JMTC), in collaboration with the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG) Survivor Outreach Services Team, will display a Boots on the Ground Heroes Memorial and host a ceremony to honor fallen service members on July 13 at 11 a.m.
LANSING, Mich. — The U.S. Navy Blue Angels have selected Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center to stage their airplanes in preparation for their participation in the 2024 National Cherry Festival Air Show, June 29-30 in Traverse City, MI. The Blue Angels will conduct a test of their mobile aircraft arresting system (MAAS) on June 26 at 12 p.m.
LANSING, Mich. — In Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the Michigan National Guard (MING) will hold exercise Northern Exposure (NE24) alongside multiple local, state and federal partners to train and prepare MING forces to respond to complex coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure causing degradation to electrical services and threats to wastewater treatment centers. The training will begin on June 23 and runs through June 27.
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG) Annual Training (AT) is scheduled to take place at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Grayling, MI from June 1 - 15.
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has recognized May 27, 2024 as Memorial Day to remember and pay honor to the courageous service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting the freedom and security of our state and nation.
