UPDATE - OCTOBER 21

Nevada Army Guard Brig. Gen. D. "Dan" Rodger Waters, a Sparks resident, assumed command as adjutant general of the Nevada National Guard on Saturday, October 19, during a change of command ceremony in Reno.

Brig. Gen. D. "Dan" Rodger Waters who began his military career as an unassuming helicopter mechanic nearly 40 years ago, became the first Soldier in the 21st Century to head the Nevada National Guard today when he succeeded Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry as Adjutant General during a ceremony at the Reno Ballroom.

The Nevada National Guard says the last Army Guard officer to serve as Adjutant General was Maj. Gen. William Engel from 1979-1983.

The Nevada Guard says it includes more than 3,300 Soldiers in the Nevada Army Guard and 1,100 Airmen in the Nevada Air Guard. Waters is the 31st Adjutant General in Nevada Guard history; the Nevada Guard traces its history to 1861 – three years before the Silver State attained statehood in 1864.

The Nevada Guard says that Waters, 56, succeeded Berry, 66, who will retire from the military at the end of the month.

Berry turned 66 on Oct. 3; that is the mandatory retirement age for military general officers, per federal law and Nevada Revised Statute.

Berry began his military service when he enlisted in the Nevada Air Guard in 1986.

The Nevada Guard says that the Adjutant General is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting Nevada Guard Soldiers, Airmen and civilians.

He is also responsible for both the state and federal missions of the Nevada National Guard and serves as the official channel of communication with the National Guard Bureau.

Gov. Joseph Lombardo (a former Nevada Army Guard Soldier) and retired Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Craig McKinley served as the presiding officers at the ceremony.

Other dignitaries included: Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jackie Rosen; Rep. Mark Amodei; former Gov. Brian Sandoval; retired Adjutant General Maj. Gens. Drennan Clark and Cynthia Kirkland; Assemblyman Ken Gray; Assemblywoman Angie Taylor and Honorary Commander Dan Morgan.

The Nevada Guard says before becoming Adjutant General, Waters had served as the Director of the Joint Staff since Feb. 2023. He attained the rank of brigadier general in July 2023.

The Nevada Guard says that recently, Waters had served as the Chief of Staff of the Army Guard from 2015-2017 and as a division chief at European Command in Germany from 2017-2020. He was Berry’s Chief of Staff from 2020-2023 before becoming the Director of the Joint Staff last year.

The Nevada Guard says that General Berry had succeeded Brig. Gen. William Burks on Sept. 7, 2019, to become the 30th adjutant general of the Nevada Guard.

General Berry a retired Reno policeman and former senior vice president in MGM Resorts International's human resources office, Berry famously led the National Guard during its largest domestic mission in state history – the 2020 COVID-19 health response that saw more than 25 percent of Nevada’s Guardsmen called to duty to assist the state’s citizens during the pandemic.

The Nevada Guard says that for his achievements while Adjutant General, Berry received a rare Distinguished Service Medal. Lombardo has also proclaimed Oct. 31 as Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry Day in Nevada to recognize Berry’s exemplary career.

They say that, during his initial address as Adjutant General, Waters underscored the fact that his father, Rodger, a highway patrolman, supported the younger Water's participation in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Course and his subsequent military career.

They say to this date, Waters gives a nod to his dad by signing his name “D. Rodger Waters” with the emphasis on his middle name, Rodger, to recognize his father. 

Waters is married to Kimberly, a former North Dakota Army Guard Soldier. They are the parents of Emily, Justin, and Jake.

ORIGINAL STORY - SEPTEMBER 3

Governor Joe Lombardo announced his selection of Brigadier General D. Rodger "Dan" Waters as the 31st Adjutant General for the State of Nevada.

The Adjutant General is the senior-ranking military officer in the Nevada National Guard. The position oversees about 5,000 Nevada Soldiers, Airmen and Civilian employees under the state’s Office of the Military.

General Waters, a resident of Sparks, most recently served as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Nevada National Guard.

In that position, he was responsible for overseeing the state's domestic emergency response efforts.

This appointment comes after Major General Ondra Berry announced his retirement. Major General Berry has served in the position since 2019.

General Waters will take command on October 30.