Colonel Hunter Belcher currently serves as the Chief of Staff, Tennessee Army National Guard. As the state’s senior federal full-time Army National Guard management official, he provides executive leadership support and primary staff advisement on all Army Matters to the Adjutant General. He is the Assistant Adjutant General’s principal advisor and manages and directs the daily administration, coordination, planning, development, execution and supervision of all Army National Guard programs.

Colonel Belcher enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 1987 as an Armor Crewman.  After eight years of enlisted service, he subsequently attended the Tennessee Military Academy’s Officer Candidate School and graduated as the Distinguished Honor Graduate, receiving a commission in 1996 as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps. 

Colonel Belcher has held numerous Command and Staff assignments during his 38 year career, including: J1 Director of Manpower, Director Human Resources, Deputy Director Human Resources, Deputy G1, AGR Manager, Secretary to the General Staff, Recruiting Battalion Commander, Battalion Executive Officer 168^th MP BN, S3 168^th MP BN, Assistant Professor Military Science – Middle Tennessee State University, Commander 269^th MP Company, Assistant Operations Officer 168^th MP BN, Platoon Leader 267^th MP Company. He served and trained in numerous countries and deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2008.

Colonel Belcher’s military education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Intermediate Level Education – Advanced Operations Course (AOC) and Common Core (CC), Combined Arms Exercise Course, Military Police Captains Career Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate), and Military Police Officer Basic Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate).  Colonel Belcher’s civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Tennessee Technological University and a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Clemson University.

Colonel Belcher’s awards and decorations include the Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Tennessee War Service Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Tennessee Distinguished Unit Commendation, Combat Action Badge, and the German Military Efficiency Badge (Bronze). Additional honors include the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award and the Order of the Marechaussee (Bronze).  

Colonel Belcher and his wife, Judy, reside in Lebanon, Tennessee. They have two children; Brooke and Hayden.

(as of 29 May 2025)