STATE OF WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-ELECT
P.O. Box 43130 Olympia, Washington 98504-3130 (360) 902-9910

Jan. 5, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor-elect Gregoire’s first appointment emphasizes security, emergency preparedness

OLYMPIA -- Governor-elect Christine Gregoire announced today that she will reappoint Major General Timothy J. Lowenberg as Adjutant General for the State of Washington.

“We are fortunate to have such a top-notch leader as head of our military and emergency forces and I’m pleased that he has agreed to continue in that post,” Gregoire said. “Of all things that government does, public safety has to be a top priority. We are reminded of safety’s importance by the recent tsunami disaster in Asia and by the continuing terrorism threat.

“This is my first announced appointment,” she said. “It represents my commitment to the security and safety of our state.

“I have worked with General Lowenberg on security issues on the state level, and I can tell you that he is the right person to make sure Washington State stands ready to preserve public safety.”

General Lowenberg has served as Adjutant General since 1999. In that position, he is head of the state’s Army and Air National Guard units and the state’s Emergency Management Division. He also serves as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee for the Adjutants General Association of the United States and as Homeland Security Adviser to the Governor.

“I am grateful for the confidence expressed by Governor-elect Gregoire and for the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Washington in the critical area of domestic preparedness,” General Lowenberg said. “I am especially pleased to continue serving with the world-class men and women of the Washington Military Department.”

General Lowenberg is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and received his commission in 1968 concurrent with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Iowa. He earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1971.

He began his active duty at McChord Air Force Base in 1971 as a judge advocate. Since 1973, he has been an Adjunct Professor of Law first at the University of Puget Sound School of Law and,more recently, the Seattle University School of Law.

In 1976, he separated from active duty and joined the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. He became a founding member in Lowenberg, Lopez and Hansen, P.S., Attorneys at Law, in 1994, specializing in labor and employment law.

He remained active in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and, in 1977, transferred to the Washington Air National Guard. He was headquarters staff judge advocate from 1977 to 1989 and was appointed Assistant Adjutant General for Air in 1989. In 1994, he was appointed Air National Guard Assistant to the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. In that role, he oversaw legal policies, plans and programs affecting Air Guard members in all 50 states.

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For media questions: Kim Contris or Steve Pierce at 360-725-5547