Four more Missourians have been confirmed by the state Senate to serve on boards, commissions, or in statewide leadership. They include Brig. Gen. Charles Hausman to be Missouri’s next adjutant general of the National Guard.

Hausman told a Senate committee that he opposes an effort in Washington D.C. and by several states that would prevent the deployment of a state’s National Guard troops to combat zones unless there is an official declaration of war by Congress.

“The purpose of the Army and the Air National Guard is to be a combat reserve of the United States Army and the United States Air Force,” Hausman said. “Clearly, those entities can be pushed forward for conflict at any time, but if they cannot access their reserve, then it begs the question, why are we paying for the reserve?”

Hausman was appointed to be the state’s senior military officer by Gov. Mike Kehoe after Maj. Gen. Levon Cumpton was appointed to serve overseas.

The Senate confirmed Sarah Willson to be the new Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services. Wilson, a nurse and small business owner, took the opportunity to tell lawmakers how she understands the impact of health and regulation from a personal and public perspective.

“It is my goal that we display excellence in everything that we do, and excellence comes from doing what we do consistently in a manner that yields that result,” she said.

Willson previously served as Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs for the Missouri Hospital Association.

Jessica Bax was tapped to oversee the Department of Social Services. Bax said she will ensure that all of the department’s programs and services are effectively managed and aligned with the department’s mission. But she acknowledged that doing so will be an uphill battle.

“We’ve inherited a lot of issues at that department that need to be resolved,” Bax said. “So, what I am excited about is really looking at that from a holistic perspective in terms of getting down to the basics of what we are supposed to be doing.”

Bax is inheriting a department that’s been under scrutiny for lengthy delays in the distribution of welfare benefits, students reportedly being abused at boarding schools that were previously unlicensed, and the handling of missing foster kids.

Lastly, Louise Secker will serve as a member of the Missouri Community Service Commission.