Donald M. Tretola Elected State Chair of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Members of the search committee responsible for identifying the new state chair for the New Jersey Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (NJESGR) have announced the unanimous election of Donald M. Tretola of Bordentown. Tretola, who has been an active member of NJESGR since 1989, replaces Col. (ret) Alan Smith, who served as state chair for three years.

Tretola currently serves as senior vice president of public affairs and program development at Allies, Inc., one of New Jersey’s largest accredited nonprofit agencies dedicated to providing housing, health care, meaningful employment and recreational opportunities to people with special needs in the communities of their choice.

At age 18, Tretola enlisted in the Army National Guard. Before joining Allies, he spent 38 years at PSE&G, starting in the service area and working his way up to public affairs director. Tretola is a graduate of Saint Peter’s University with a degree in business management.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense office established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for guard and reserve service. The office of state chair is a volunteer position that requires an oath of office administered by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The position carries a three-year term and the protocol of a military two-star flag officer. The chair provides leadership and vision for a team of more than 180 dedicated volunteers and serves over 8,000 service members spread all across the state and represents all Seven Seals; United States Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard and Coast Guard Reserve.

ESGR is supported by a network of 4,700 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The mission of the ESGR is to inform and educate service members and their civilian employers regarding their rights and responsibilities governed by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).