Gordon Sumner Jr., a retired Army lieutenant colonel, was appointed Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) executive director March 29.

In an interview last month, he said maintaining good communications with civilian employers of Guardsmen and Reservists is a major component of ESGR success. And he emphasized that ESGR maintain open lines of communication with employers of Guard members and Reservists, regardless of where they're located.

Created in 1972, the ESGR is a Defense Department agency that provides information and education for employers of members of the reserve components.

In addition, the agency can mediate potential disputes between employers and their employees in the Guard or Reserves.

The national committee's more than 4,200 volunteers at 56 field committees across the United States and its territories serve as advocates for good relations between employers and their military employees, Mr. Sumner said.

"Our job is to get that information out through an outreach program that is robust, timely and strongly supported," he added.

-Compiled from staff and Pentagon reports

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