Director of the Joint Staff
Colonel Augusto Villalaz
Colonel Augusto “Gus” Villalaz is the Director of the Joint Staff for the Louisiana National Guard. He serves as the chief advisor and principal assistant to The Adjutant General of Louisiana. He is responsible for directing, supervising, training, and coordinating the staff and assisting The Adjutant General in the deployment and coordination of programs, policies, and plans affecting more than 11,000 members of the Louisiana National Guard. COL Villalaz is also designated as the State’s Dual Status Commander, responsible for commanding all military forces while conducting emergency and contingency operations in Louisiana.
Colonel Villalaz received his direct commission into the Infantry from the Louisiana National Guard in 1998 following five years of enlisted service in the regular Army as an Armor Crewman. His previous command and staff positions include: Platoon Leader, B Company 2-156th Infantry, 256th IBCT; Commander, C Company 3-156th Infantry, 256th IBCT; Assistant Operations Officer, 3-156th IN, 256th IBCT; Commander, C Company 1-124th Infantry, 53rd IBCT; Current Operations Officer, 53rd IBCT; Liaison Officer, National Guard Bureau; Plans Officer, 53rd IBCT; Operations Officer, 1-124th Infantry, 53rd IBCT; Strategic Planner, United States Southern Command; Interagency Coordinator, USSOUTHCOM; Commander, 2-345th Regiment; Exercise Coordinator, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Battle Captain, National Military Command Center, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Mobilization Actions Branch Chief, Headquarters, Department of the Army; Mobilization Officer, US Army Training and Doctrine Command; Commander, Caribbean Readiness Group. He currently serves as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Louisiana National Guard.
Colonel Villalaz has mobilized into active federal service eight times during his career. In 1996, he deployed to Germany. In 1997, he deployed to Macedonia in support of the United Nations Protection Force. In 2001, He mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle. In 2004, he mobilized and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III/IV. In 2009, he mobilized and deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn. In 2016, he mobilized to Fort Bliss, Texas, in support of 1st Army. In 2018, he mobilized to the Pentagon twice in support of the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Headquarters, Department of the Army.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1992, a Master in Criminal Justice from American Military University in 2011, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2022. His military education includes the Infantry Officer’s Basic and Career Courses, the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, the Intermediate Level Education Course, the Joint Firepower Course, the Joint Capabilities Planners Course, the Joint Task Force Commander Course, the Dual Status Commander Course, and the U.S. Army War College.
COL Villalaz’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the United Nations Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Joint Staff Identification Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, the Louisiana National Guard Commendation Medal, the Louisiana National Guard War Cross Medal, and the Florida Governor’s Meritorious Unit Citation.
COL Villalaz is a retired Deputy U.S. Marshal. He resides in New Orleans, Louisiana and is married to the former Michelle Del Carmen Madrid with two children: Augusto and Sven.