Advocated by National Guard proponents including John McAuley Palmer and the first Guard officer to serve as Chief was George C. Rickards .
John McAuley Palmer is the National Defense Act of 1920 mandated that the Chief of the National Guard Bureau would be a National Guard officer .
Advocated by National Guard proponents including John McAuley Palmer , the National Defense Act of 1920 mandated that the Chief of the National Guard Bureau would be a National Guard officer , and the first Guard officer to serve as Chief was George C. Rickards .