Description of duties - The Office of the Adjutant General is charged with the organization, administration, operation and training, supply and discipline of the Army and Air National Guard of the state.  The Adjutant General is the principal military representative of the Commander-in Chief, the Governor.  

Mission:
Army National Guard - Successfully mobilize, and deploy soldiers and units to meet our federal and state missions and to add value to the communities in which we live, work and serve.
Air National Guard - Providing an Air National Guard force ready and fully capable of meeting all present and future missions of the nation, the state and the community.

Biography: General Tackett began his military career in the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Private with the 16th Special Forces Group on 20 January 1963 .  He went on to attend Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning , Georgia where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry on 27 June 1967 .  General Tackett served with the 16th Special Forces Group and the 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group for 25 years culminating with a tour as the Battalion Commander from 1 August 1985 through 1 October 1988 .

After 25 years with the Special Forces Battalion, he was assigned to the West Virginia State Area Command in several different positions of importance.  While serving as the Maintenance Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, he was promoted to the grade of Colonel on 1 May 1989 .  He then served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff.  On 1 August 1994 ,  General Tackett was assigned as the Special Assistant to the Adjutant General, then on 16 January 1995 he was assigned as the Assistant Adjutant General of the West Virginia Army National Guard.  Effective 11 September 1995 , General Tackett was appointed as The Adjutant General for the West Virginia National Guard by Governor Gaston Caperton.  On 9 October 1996 , Governor Caperton promoted him to Major General.  In 1997, he was reappointed by Governor Cecil H. Underwood and in November 2000 Governor elect Robert Wise announced his intention to re-appoint him as The Adjutant General for his administration.