NGS Appoints General Garrett Yee to Lead Veterans' Records Initiative

NGS Appoints Major General Garrett S. Yee as Honorary Chairman for Capital Campaign

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) proudly announces the appointment of Major General (Retired) Garrett S. Yee as the Honorary Chairman of the Veteran Bounty Land Records (VBLR) capital campaign. This significant fundraising initiative aims to preserve and digitize military records that have historic importance to the United States.

Project Overview

This ambitious project seeks to raise $2.5 million to protect, index, digitize, and provide online access to more than 360,000 bounty land warrant application files from veterans of early American conflicts, including the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Mexican-American War. The records, held at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), present crucial insights into the service of these veterans and will ultimately serve genealogists, historians, and the public. By allowing free access to these materials, the project aims to unveil long-hidden family histories and stories.

Honoring Leadership and Service

David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, FNGS, President of NGS, expressed the organization’s deep gratitude for General Yee's commitment to the campaign. “We are honored to welcome General Garrett Yee as our Honorary Chairman,” he stated. Rencher emphasized that Yee's remarkable military career and leadership qualities resonate with the essence of this initiative—commemorating the legacies of those who served in the military.

General Yee, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, has a notable history of military leadership and public service. He is an alumnus of Santa Clara University and earned an MBA from Golden Gate University, alongside a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His military career concluded in 2022 after serving as Assistant to the Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), where he facilitated defense communications and IT operations.

A Personal Commitment to Service

Reflecting on his new role, General Yee commented, “It is an immense honor to serve as the Honorary Chairman of this effort to preserve and share important historical records of those who helped shape our nation.