Society Staff
Staff
Board of Directors
- Gavin McIlvenna, President
- Scott Sengenberger, Vice-President
- Lonny LeGrand, Secretary
- Larry W. Seaton, Treasurer / Historian
- Thomas W. Tudor, Past-President
- Jamie Goebel, Quartermaster
- Andrew Thomas, Director
- Jeffrey Stitzel, Director
- Matthew Woody, Director
- Ruth Robinson, Director
- SSG Alexander Deal, Sergeant of the Guard
Staff
- Maria Diaz, Legal Counsel
- Charles Shacochis, Chaplain
- Lynn Giddings, Administrative Assistant
- Pam Tish, Website
- Dave Hathaway, Assistant Quartermaster
Honorary Board of Directors
- Chief of Staff, United States Army
- Sergeant Major of the Army
- Commanding General, Military District of Washington
- Command Sergeant Major, Military District of Washington
- Commanding Officer, 3d US Infantry (The Old Guard)
- Regimental Sergeant Major, 3d Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
- Sergeant of the Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
Support the Society
The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) is able to provide our programs, events, assistance, scholarships, and services due to the generosity of its members, organizations, and individuals. SHGTUS does not receive institutional funding. Note: The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contributions may be fully tax deductible.
Learn More
Did you know?
How many Sentinels have been female?
There have been over 630 tomb guards awarded the badge since 1958 when we started counting. There are hundreds more from the year 1926 when the Army started guarding the Tomb. The 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) is the unit that has been given the duty of guarding the Tomb. It was given this sacred duty in 1948. The Old Guard was -- and still is -- considered a combat unit. As an Infantry unit, females were not permitted in the ranks for many years. It wasn't until 1994 that females were permitted to volunteer to become a Sentinel when the 289th Military Police Company was attached to the Old Guard. The MP branch is a combat support unit and includes females.
In 1996, SGT Heather Johnson became the first female to earn the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. She volunteered for duty in June 1995 and earned her badge in 1996. However, SGT Johnson was not the only female Sentinel. Since then, there have been three additional female Sentinels awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. SGT Danyell Wilson earned her badge in 1997, SSG Tonya Bell received hers in 1998, and SGT Ruth Hanks earned her badge, #643 in June 2015.
Several other units have since been attached to the Old Guard -- food service, transportation, medics, etc. -- so now females have an ever greater opportunity to become a Sentinel. Females must meet the same requirements as the male soldiers to be eligible to volunteer at the Tomb. the only difference is that females have a minimum height of 5'8" -- which is the same standard to be a member of the Old Guard.
