The Arkansas National Guard Foundation is pleased to announce at Ryan Workman has been elected as the new President of the Foundation. Workman will be replacing Paul Jara, who is retiring from the Arkansas Air National Guard. Workman said, “I am excited to help lead the Foundation in its mission to provide charitable and educational support to members of the Arkansas National Guard, their families, and their Survivors.”

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. 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.

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.

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. 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.

Workman said of his predecessor, “I am humbled by the opportunity to follow a great leader like Paul Jara. Under Paul’s capable leadership, the Foundation obtained over $5,350,000 in grants and was able to significantly expand its capabilities to support the Soldiers, Airmen and Survivors of the Arkansas National Guard. Paul clearly has a passion for helping service members, as evidenced by the job that Paul has moved to in retirement.”

Damon Cluck, the Executive Director of the Arkansas National Guard Foundation explained, “Paul Jara has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas National Guard Morale Welfare and Recreation Fund, Inc. (or simply the MWR). The MWR is also a non-profit that has a dual mission of providing quality merchandise and services to its customers at competitively low prices and to generate earnings which support the general welfare of the of the of the units and members of the Arkansas National Guard. 100 percent of the profits of the MWR are utilized to support the programs of the Arkansas National Guard Foundation, so Paul is just moving from the leadership of one military support nonprofit to another.”

We look forward to seeing the impact these two leaders will continue to have on the lives of our Soldiers and Airmen!

For more information about the Arkansas National Guard Foundation, it’s Mission and Program Areas please visit our website at [https://www.angf.us/].

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BACKGROUND ON ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD FOUNDATION: The Arkansas National Guard Foundation was established in 2013 as the successor to the National Guard Association of Arkansas Insurance Trust, which was created in 1967. Its mission is to provide charitable and educational support to members of the Arkansas National Guard, their dependents and survivors, veterans, and other charitable organizations that support veteran communities in Arkansas.

The Foundation continues to expand its impact by implementing programs that enhance education, job training, emergency relief, youth programs, legacy preservation and overall readiness for Arkansas National Guard Soldiers and Airmen.

For more information about the Foundation’s history, programs, and future initiatives, please visit our website at angf.us.

For media inquiries please contact Colonel (ret) Damon N. Cluck at 501-772-1270 or dcluck@angf.us.

Arkansas National Guard Foundation P.O. Box 663 North Little Rock, AR 72115

COL Paul Jara, show with his wife Mrs. Elizabeth Jara,  is retiring and accepting the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas National Guard Morale Welfare and Recreation Fund, Inc.

Lt Col Ryan Workman is the newly elected President of the Arkansas National Guard Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) that support the Soldiers and Airman of the Arkansas National Guard.