President: Mr. RYAN L. WORKMAN, Lt Colonel, AR Air National Guard

Background & Education
Ryan has served in the United States Air Force and the Arkansas Air National Guard over the last twenty-three years. He earned a degree from Texas A&M University in the field of Construction Science and has also completed a wide range of professional military education throughout his career.

Professional Experience
After leaving active duty in the United States Air Force in 2011, Ryan began work as a financial advisor in Little Rock, AR, and as a part-time guardsman. Since then, he has started his own insurance business while returning to full-time duty with the AR Air National Guard. He has worked in various roles; he served as the Legislative Liaison to the office of The Adjutant General, is a C-130H Instructor Pilot, and most recently, assumed command of the 154th Training Squadron.

Contributions & Recognition
Ryan is a lifetime member of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) and the National Guard Association of AR (NGAA), where he served as a Board Member since 2014 and as President in 2021. Since its inception in 2004, Ryan has served as a director of the Squadron 8 Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that gives financial aid to ROTC students attending Texas A&M University.

Personal Motivation & Vision
Ryan is passionate about the needs and financial stability of guardsmen and veterans across our state and nation. He works through strategic partnerships to provide opportunities for members of the Guard to receive education and opportunities to plan for their financial future. He sees the Arkansas National Guard Foundation as a vital part of this process.

Outside of Work
Ryan has been married to Charity for 24 years, and they have two children. He enjoys spending time with his family and getting time outdoors to hunt.

Vice President: Mr. Bryan Mays, EAANG

SMSgt Brian L. Mays currently serves as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Protocol for the 188th Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard at Fort Smith. He is a past president and past treasurer of the Enlisted Association of the Arkansas National Guard (EAANG).

Secretary: Mr. Adam Warford, NGAA

Major Adam Warford was selected to join the Arkansas National Guard Foundation Board of Directors in April 2020. He previously served as a board member for the National Guard Association of Arkansas as the Joint Forces Headquarters representative, and has also served as a board member for the Arkansas National Guard Museum Foundation.

He is currently the Administrative Officer for 1-153 Infantry Battalion in Malvern, AR. His previous assignment include Secretary to the General Staff, Arkansas Army National Guard, and Operations Officer, 233 rd Regional Training Institute, as well as several other command and staff assignments with 1-153 Infantry. Prior to his active duty service with the Arkansas National Guard, MAJ Warford was a deputy prosecutor with the 22nd Judicial District.

MAJ Warford holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas – Little Rock Bowen School of Law, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University.

He and Amberlyn, his wife of 16 years, reside in Saline County, with their three children: Ainsley, Addison, and Asa.

Director: Mr. Ben Moore, ANGF

Ben is a native of Sherwood, Arkansas. He started his career in finance at Bank of America in 2004 as a Small Business Banking Specialist and Commercial Lender until 2009 when he moved to Edward Jones Investments to pursue a career as a Financial Advisor. In that time, he has become a Limited Partner with Edward Jones Investments and serves clients in over 20 states specializing in all things TSP and Federal Retirement.

During his tenure at Edward Jones, he has provided over 200 Federal Financial Literacy Seminars at various federal installations throughout the region. Ben has a Master of Strategic Management from Harvard University, with an emphasis in Economics. Ben and his team have been involved with the NGAA for the past several years, providing financial literacy to soldiers and airmen. He and his wife Tiffany are also involved with several other non for profits in Central Arkansas. They have a son named Liam Roy and make North Little Rock home.

Director: Mr. Russel Betts, NGAA

Professional Approach and Experience:
Since 1997, Russel has been working as a planner in Central Arkansas dedicated to helping individuals and businesses build their financial futures. Russel’s comprehensive attention to detail and planning with his clients is very much second nature. Russel is truly unique in that he has remained active in the US Military since 1985. This combination of Russel’s skills and core values make him a priceless asset to all his clients.

Academic Achievements Include:
Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Arkansas State University

Life Outside of Business:
Civic duty is an important part of Russel’s commitment to the community; he has been fortunate enough to forge relationships with several local Arkansas organizations that include the National Guard Association of Arkansas and Shriners International. Russel has been an officer since 1990 and is currently a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves. He is a combat Veteran from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Russel currently resides in Benton, Arkansas with his wife Trisha and their three children; he is a member of the Benton First Presbyterian Church.

Director: Mr. Steven Veazey, EAANG

Mr. Veazey and his wife Leanna live in Sheridan, AR. He retired in August 2023 with 44 years of service in the Army National Guard. His last assignment was as the State Senior Enlisted Leader where he served as the principal advisor to the The Adjutant General, responsible for caring for over 7000 Soldiers and 2000 Airmen and their families. His Military Education includes the United States Sargeant Major Academy and the United States Keystone Academy.

He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Veterans Services for the Arkansas Department of Veteran Affairs, where he manages the Arkansas Veterans Child welfare Service Grant program.

Mr. Veazey was elected to the Foundation Board in 2022 as a Director representing the Enlisted Association of the Enlisted Association of the Arkansas National Guard (EAANG). He was selected as the 2023 EAANG Retiree of the Year. He also serves as a member of the Arkansas National Guard Museum Board of Directors.

Steve and Leanna have been Married for the past 43. ars and have two kids, seven grandkids and one great grandchild. He is a member of East Union Missionary Baptist Church where he serves as a Life Group Leader.

Director: (Ex Officio) Ms. Ashley Brodnax, President, EAANG

MSgt Ashley Brodnax currently serves as the President of the Enlisted Association of the Arkansas National Guard (EAANG). She is actively serving as a Knowledge Operations Manager at the 189th Airlift Wing, Communications Flight at Little Rock Air Force Base. She has been serving for 13 years and has been in four career fields.

Ashley serves as the District 6 Representative for the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, (EANGUS) and has chaired the Resolutions committee at the State and Area levels. Her hobby and love of coaching her athletes at Blueprint Fitness and Wellness keeps her busy, but she always finds time to spend with her two amazing grandbabies and her husband Lance.

DIRECTOR: (EX OFFICIO) MR. HAROLD (TREY) MARABLE, PRESIDENT, NGAA

Lieutenant Colonel Harold (Trey) Marable, a native of Hazen, AR, joined the Arkansas Army National Guard in 2007. He graduated from Arkansas State University in 2005 and was commissioned in 2008. MAJ Marable currently serves as the President of the National Guard Association of Arkansas and has served on the NGAA Board since 2017 in multiple capacities and was elected to 2nd Vice President in April 2020. He currently resides in Carlisle, Arkansas.

DIRECTOR: (EX OFFICIO) MRS. ELIZABETH JARA, NGAA

Mrs. Elizabeth Jara has served the National Guard Association of Arkansas since Jan of 2020, first as the Director of Development before being selected as the Executive Director of the NGAA in 2022. She graduated from the University of Portland in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

She is a USAF veteran and a military spouse. She has previously served as the Director of Policy and Research for the Reform Alliance, an Arkansas non-profit focused on improving educational outcomes in Arkansas. She is a previous youth group and confirmation director for Immaculate Heart of Mary, North Little Rock. She currently serves as the head coach for the Flames Cross Country Team in Little Rock. She is an avid tennis player and currently lives in Little Rock, with her husband Paul and her five amazing children.

Director: (Ex Officio) Mr. Damon Cluck, Executive Director, NGAA

Colonel (ret) Damon Neil Cluck began his service on the Board of Directors for the National Guard Association of Arkansas Trust in 2012 and was an original member of the Board of Directors for the Arkansas National Guard Foundation. COL Cluck served two terms as President of the ANGF. He is also a Past President and life member of the NGAA. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the NGAA. COL Cluck is also a life member of the United States Field Artillery Association and a member of the Ancient Order of St. Barbara.

COL Cluck began his military career when he enlisted in Battery C, 5th Battalion, 206th Field Artillery on 14 February 1989. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery, on 11 May 1990 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Arkansas State University. His assignments include command at the Battery, Battalion and Brigade level. He served on two operational deployments, first in 2004-2005 as Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery and second, in 2008-2009 as Commander of the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery. His military career culminated in his assignment as Director of Military Support for the Arkansas National Guard. COL Cluck retired with 31 years of service on 31 May 2020.

COL Cluck graduated from Arkansas State University with a B.A. in History. He Graduated from Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law at Memphis State University in 1996 with a Juris Doctorate. Prior to entering the Active Guard and Reserve Program (AGR) in 2000, COL Cluck was an attorney in private practice in Paragould, Arkansas.

COL Cluck, wife LTC (ret) Brenda Cluck, and their three children, Annabel, Aiden, and Hayden live in Sherwood, Arkansas and attend the Sylvan Hills Church of Christ. COL Cluck serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 259, Boy Scouts of America, in Sherwood.

Board Member At Large: Melissa Holland

Board Member At Large: Randy Lann

Board Member At Large: Christian Gwatney Baker