The Adjutant General

Major General Stanhope S. Spears is Adjutant General of South Carolina. He leads and directs the 13,500-member South Carolina Army and Air National Guard, and oversees operations of the South Carolina State Guard and the State Emergency Management Division. He also serves on the Board of Visitors for the Citadel.

General Spears was born 23 April 1937, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. he is a 1955 graduate of Clover High School, Clover, South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina.

Upon graduation from USC in 1959, General Spears enlisted in the South Carolina Air National Guard and served two years before his acceptance to the South Carolina Army National Guard's Palmetto Military Academy. Upon graduation in 1962, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard. He served as a traditional Guard member for the next 32 years, earning the rank of Brigadier General and achieving The Office of Assistant Adjutant General. Before taking office as The Adjutant General of South Carolina, he was senior vice president with Marsh-McLennan, Inc., the worlds largest insurance brokerage firm, retiring after 27 years service. Prior to being elected Adjutant General, he was employed by Willis Corroon Corporation.

The general's military education includes: Armor Officer Basic Course, 1964; Armor Officer Advanced Course, 1971; Command and General Staff College, 1976; National Defense University, Reserve Components National Security Course, 1978.

General Spears became commander of the 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry in May, 1983. He also directed the National Guard's NCO and Officer Candidate Schools before commanding Troop Command from October, 1991 until April, 1994. He then served nine months as Assistant Adjutant General for the South Carolina Army National Guard, prior to taking office as Adjutant General.

General Spears was elected Adjutant General in the statewide General Election November 8, 1994 and sworn into office January 11, 1995. He was re-elected November 3, 1998 and sworn into office January 13, 1999.  General Spears is the only state's fifth Adjutant General since 1926. He is the nation's only elected Adjutant General. Spears was appointed to the Reserve Forces Policy Board by the U.S. Secretary   of Defense on August 1, 2000.

His awards and decorations include: The Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest civilian non-military award, presented by the Governor of South Carolina; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; National Defense Medal and The Distinguished Eagle Award.