FORT SILL, Okla. (March 30, 2018) -- The Army National Guard has 63 percent of the Army's field artillery forces; and 83 percent of its Short Range Air Defense forces, said Fort Sill officials.

The leaders responsible for overseeing these missions work side-by-side with their active-duty and Reserve counterparts as the Fires forces are modernized.

The Lawton-Fort Sill community welcomed the two deputy commanding generals responsible for the National Guard's Fires missions during a ceremony March 22, outside McNair Hall.

Brig. Gen. Russ Johnson, deputy commanding general Army National Guard to Fort Sill for field artillery; and Brig. Gen. Frank Rice, deputy commanding general Army National Guard to Fort Sill for air defense artillery, and their families, were welcomed by dozens of post and community leaders, fellow service members, families and friends.

Maj. Gen. Wilson A. Shoffner, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, hosted the ceremony.

He noted that both of the brigadier generals are dual-hatted: Johnson is also land component commander for the Idaho Army National Guard; and Rice is the deputy commanding general for the 263rd Army and Air Missile Defense Command (AAMDC), South Carolina Army National Guard.

"They have pretty significant day jobs in addition to their deputy commanding general responsibilities (here)," Shoffner said. "Federal law actually limits the amount of time they can spend here, but it does take up a significant portion of their year."

The 263rd AAMDC is an integrated air defense system in the National Capitol Region.

"It's a very important mission and we're delighted that we had General Tim Sheriff, and now have General Frank Rice, officers who not only understand that mission, but have commanded it," Shoffner said.

In his civilian career, Rice works for a company that produces commercial drone services, Shoffner said. "Add that to his repertoire and expertise and that gives us some skill sets that are directly relevant to what we do here."

Johnson led a task force of about 15 Soldiers from Fort Sill to Europe for Exercise Dynamic Front, which is the premier multi-forces Fires exercise in the world, Shoffner said.

"They went over there and stood up a theater's surface Fires command at the three-star level," Shoffner said. "He did a phenomenal job despite the near-absence of guidance, and that no one had ever done it before."

Johnson and Rice will have huge, critical roles as key decisions are made in the field artillery, and air defense artillery branches in the next few months and years as they assist Fires modernization in a Total Army effort -- the active force, Reserve and National Guard, Shoffner concluded.

During the ceremony, Shoffner deferred honors to the National Guard generals.

Fort Sill's "Salute Battery" B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery fired 11 rounds from 105mm howitzers in honor of the brigadier generals. Rice and Johnson were each presented a canister symbolizing the first artillery round fired in their honor in their respective new positions.

Johnson, a former enlisted Marine, said his role is to represent the director of the Army National Guard Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy and the Guard's FA equities to the Fires Center of Excellence. He said he will continue improving the Guard's FA doctrine and technology, and educating and administering the field artillery force.

He noted the National Guard uses towed howitzers, self-propelled howitzers, the Multiple Launch Rocket System, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, as well as infantry indirect Fires systems, such as mortars.

Johnson added that he brings his expertise from his Idaho National Guard ministrations to the FCoE.

"I spend a good deal of my time working domestic operations, defense support to civilian authorities, contingency plans," Johnson said. "That's really neat that I'm able to bring that level of experience in those areas to my job at Fort Sill."

Rice said the FCoE can expect his highest level of support and professionalism.

"I'm going to insert myself into the processes to help with the ADA component," Rice said.

He added the National Guard ADA mission has a robust operational schedule, and numerous units are deployed worldwide working alongside active-duty units.

Both brigadier generals say they will split their time 50-50 between Fort Sill, and their state National Guard responsibilities, which includes time in Washington, D.C.