The Adjutant General of Michigan is the senior military official of the Michigan National Guard and serves as the principal military advisor to the Governor of Michigan. The Adjutant General also serves as the Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). In this dual role, the official oversees the administration, training, readiness, and mobilization of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard.
The office was first established by the Territorial Militia Act of May 11, 1820. This act authorized the Governor to appoint an Adjutant General to maintain muster rolls and report the status of the militia to the President of the United States.
Following Michigan's transition to statehood, a legislative resolution on March 22, 1838, authorized the printing of the state's militia laws. At this time, the Adjutant General was designated as a staff officer with the rank of Colonel, primarily responsible for the "adjutant general's department" and the distribution of military forms and returns.
The office underwent a significant formalization under Act No. 70 of 1844. This act required the Adjutant General to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of both houses of the Legislature. The act also elevated the rank of the office to Brigadier General.
This structure was codified in the Revised Statutes of 1846, which established a fixed two-year term of office and set the annual salary at $300.
During the American Civil War, the office grew in strategic importance. Adjutant General John Robertson served as a key advisor to Governor Austin Blair, coordinating the mobilization of volunteer regiments and managing the state's military quotas. Under Robertson's leadership, the department produced Michigan in the War, a comprehensive record of the state's military service.
The following is a list of individuals who have served as the Adjutant General of the Michigan Territory and the State of Michigan.