SANTA FE – Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, is announcing his retirement after more than 33 years of military service.

Gen. Nava has served as the adjutant general since 2017. He will retire from the U.S. Army and New Mexico National Guard on Dec. 31, 2021.

"It has been an honor serving the citizens of our great state and nation as the Adjutant General of New Mexico. I am very proud of what our 4,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the New Mexico National Guard have accomplished over the past four-and-a-half years,” said Gen. Nava. “I am thankful for the leadership of Gov. Lujan Grisham and the dedicated members of her cabinet throughout the last three years, including during the darkest days of the pandemic.”

Gen. Nava’s career began in 1988 as an enlisted HAWK Firing Section Mechanic in the 7th Battalion, 200th Air Defense Artillery with the New Mexico Army National Guard.

He later earned his commission through Officer Candidate School as a second lieutenant in 1992 and was assigned as a tactical control officer in the 200th Air Defense Artillery. He served in combat in Iraq from 2008 to 2010 as the Commander of the 515th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

He is moving on to a position in the private sector.

“General Nava has been a stand-out leader throughout my time in office, and he was integral in mobilizing our national guard to support and protect New Mexicans throughout the pandemic,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “I thank him for his many years of service to our state and our country and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”