After the attacks of September 11 , 2001 , the role of the National Guard in American defense policy changed as National Guard units were regularly deployed overseas . Vavala was in command when units of the Delaware Army and Air National Guard were integrated with active duty forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq , Afghanistan , Kuwait , Saudi Arabia , and Kyrgyzstan
attacks of September 11 , 2001
September 11 attacks
Francis D. Vavala