Confirmations committee approves Alabama National Guard promotions, 11-0, and forwards nominations to full Senate

The Alabama Senate confirmations committee unanimously approved state confirmations for multiple Alabama National Guard officers and moved the nominations to the full Senate for federal confirmation after an 11-0 voice vote.

The committee approved the confirmations en masse after members heard short remarks from nominees and from Guard leaders. Motioning to approve the slate, Senator Sessions was seconded by Senator Smitherman; the committee recorded 11 yeas and 0 nays. The committee chair said the members hope the nominees will receive final confirmation on the Senate floor the following day.

Why it matters: State confirmation is the first step for Alabama National Guard officers who are nominated for promotion; witnesses at the hearing said federal confirmation by the United States Senate is required afterward and can take many months. That two-step process means the committee’s approvals advance nominees to a federal review and final Senate vote.

The nominees listed to the committee included Colonel Thomas J. Skinner; Colonel Todd W. Wheeler; Colonel David Rigg; Colonel Robert J. Griggs; Colonel John Craft; and a general-level nomination identified in the packet as Matthew A. (name variant in transcript). Committee members and military witnesses explained that one nominee (Colonel Griggs) was not present at the committee hearing.

Colonel Todd W. Wheeler, who identified Decatur as home and who introduced himself as commander of the 142nd Military Police Brigade, told the committee: “I want to appreciate you for this opportunity and for your consideration today.”

Colonel Thomas J. Skinner — who introduced himself as Jay and described his role as staff judge advocate for the 167th Theater Sustainment Command — summarized his legal and liaison experience and said the Alabama National Guard is “a tight knit family.”

A military representative told the committee that the confirmations are a two-step state-and-federal process. “This is part of the two-step process,” the representative said, explaining that state confirmations move to the federal level and that federal review and placement can be lengthy.

Senators used the hearing to thank the nominees for their service. The committee chair said, “Thank you all for what y’all do,” and the committee arranged a group photograph after the vote.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved the slate by voice vote following a formal motion. Motion: approve confirmations en masse; Mover: Senator Sessions; Seconder: Senator Smitherman; Tally: 11 yes, 0 no; Outcome: approved and referred to the full Senate for final confirmation.

Next steps: Committee members said they expected the nominees’ nominations to be presented to the full Alabama Senate the next day for final state action and that the federal confirmation packets would then proceed to the United States Senate for consideration. A military witness said federal confirmation and placement is a longer process, with packets moving forward that can take months to resolve.

The committee adjourned after the vote.