The Adjutant General: is the head of the Department; shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; is subordinate only to the Governor in matters relating to the Department; shall have a commissioned grade not above that of Lieutenant General; and shall be a full–time employee of the Department in State active duty status. At the time of appointment, the Adjutant General shall: have at least 2 years of commissioned field grade service in the National Guard; have attained at least the rank of colonel; and meet the requirements for federal recognition at the rank of Major General. The Adjutant General is a member of the Governor’s Executive Council. If the Adjutant General is ordered into the active military service of the United States, the Governor may designate an acting Adjutant General to exercise the duties of the Adjutant General during the period the Adjutant General is on active military service.

The Adjutant General may appoint: a chief of State operations; an executive officer; an administrative officer; the directors of military installations, procurement, military support to civil authorities, State personnel, finance, and veterans affairs; the site managers for military reservations; and a grants administrator. The executive officer and directors appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection serve at the pleasure of the Adjutant General. The Adjutant General shall keep all records required to be kept and filed with the Adjutant General’s office. On or before each October 15, the Adjutant General shall submit to the Governor a detailed statement of all the receipts and expenditures for military purposes during the year ending the previous September 30. On request, the Adjutant General or the Adjutant General’s designee shall assist the spouse of a member of the military who resides in the State or is transferred to the State in finding employment in the State. The assistance provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection may include providing: the informational form developed by the State Department of Education under § 6–201.1 of the Education Article; information relating to health occupations in the State that permit reciprocal licensure; and information relating to business occupations in the State that permit reciprocal licensure. The Adjutant General is responsible for: each armory that the State owns; and each building or other property purchased, occupied, or leased by or on behalf of the State military forces. If the Adjutant General rejects an application to use an armory for nonmilitary purposes, the application is subject to review and approval by the Board of Public Works, the Adjutant General, and the commanding officer of the unit occupying that armory. The Adjutant General may adopt regulations to enforce this subsection. The Adjutant General is the custodian of battle flags and war records and is responsible for their proper care and preservation. The Adjutant General may employ employees as required. The Adjutant General shall carry out the Governor’s policies concerning matters specified in this title and Title 14, Subtitles 1, 2, and 4 of this article. The seal of the Adjutant General’s office shall be delivered by the Adjutant General to the Adjutant General’s successor. The Adjutant General may adopt rules and regulations to govern, discipline, and establish criteria for the performance of duties of the organized militia of the State, as defined in § 13–203 of this title. The rules and regulations shall, to the extent practicable, conform to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and to the rules, regulations, and statutes of the Department of Defense, the Army, the Air Force, and the National Guard Bureau of the United States. When the rules and regulations have been adopted and published by the Adjutant General, they shall have the force and effect of law and constitute a lawful order. Adoption and publication of rules and regulations under paragraph (3) of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the State Government Article.

The Governor shall appoint two Assistant Adjutants General for the Maryland Army National Guard and two Assistant Adjutants General for the Maryland Air National Guard. An Assistant Adjutant General serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Unless selected for a military position requiring federal recognition as a Major General, an Assistant Adjutant General shall have a commissioned grade not above that of Brigadier General. To be appointed as an Assistant Adjutant General an individual shall: have at least 1 year of commissioned field grade service in the National Guard; and have attained at least the rank of colonel. An Assistant Adjutant General shall perform the military duties that are assigned by the Governor or Adjutant General. One of the Assistant Adjutants General for the Maryland Army National Guard and one of the Assistant Adjutants General for the Maryland Air National Guard shall be full–time employees of the Department in State active duty status. The other two Assistant Adjutants General shall be traditional drilling guard members.

The Adjutant General and the Assistant Adjutants General shall have a salary as stated in the annual budget.

The Governor shall appoint a Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for the Maryland Army National Guard. The Deputy Assistant Adjutant General serves at the pleasure of the Adjutant General. The Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for the Maryland Army National Guard shall: have a commissioned grade not above that of Brigadier General; and perform the military duties assigned by the Governor or the Adjutant General.

Officers, warrant officers, and enlisted individuals who are full–time employees of the Department are in State active duty status. The Adjutant General may appoint a chief of staff and aides. The chief of staff and aides serve at the pleasure of the Adjutant General.