SKOPJE, North Macedonia –
Brig. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont Adjutant General, and a delegation of leadership from Vermont visited North Macedonia as part of the State Partnership Program.
After almost 30 years of partnership, Vermont and North Macedonia continue to build strong bonds and learn from one another through military, government and civilian interactions.
The partnership between Vermont and North Macedonia started in 1993 and is one of the longest partnerships in the State Partnership Program administered by the National Guard Bureau. Vermont leaders have supported and witnessed North Macedonia become the most recent country to join NATO.
The delegation from Vermont included: Brig. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont Adjutant General; Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Edwards, Vermont Senior Enlisted Adviser; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jim Woodworth, Vermont Command Chief; Lt. Col. Hazel Kreider, Vermont National Guard SPP Director; Lt. Col. Chris Ruggerio, Executive Officer to the Adjutant General, and Maj. Nathan Fry, Bilateral Affairs Officer to North Macedonia.
“What impresses me most is the work ethic and focus I have witnessed from our partners from North Macedonia in the past several years,” said Knight. “The degree of participation, and scope of multinational exercises this early in North Macedonia’s NATO membership is indicative of the positive direction we get to be a part of.”