President Donald Trump appointed Governor Doug Ducey to the Council of Governors, a bipartisan group of ten governors who will advise the White House on matters of homeland security and national defense.

The Council of Governors is composed five Democratic and five Republican governors, the secretaries of the Department of Defense and Homeland security. The President’s homeland security and counter-terrorism advisors, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, the commandant of the Coast Guard and the chief of the National Guard Bureau are also part of the Council.

Ducey says he will bring Arizona's perspectives to the Council

In a statement, Ducey said, “Arizona is the home of multiple major military installations. Protecting our national defense infrastructure, as well as public safety and border security are top priorities.”

He added, “As the only southwestern border governor on the Council, I look forward to bringing Arizona’s perspective to the discussion to help advance policies that will make our communities safer and our border more secure.”

The other governors who will serve in the Council include

• Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson
• Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont
• Hawaii Gov. David Ige
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
• Missouri Gov. Michael Parson
• Montana Gov. Steve Bullock
• Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine

The Council "articulates governors' positions and concerns on key issues"

The Council is holding its first plenary meeting cybersecurity, disaster preparedness, the federal budget, defense spending, and military issues. on Friday at Washington D.C

Separately, the National Association of Governors (NGA) welcomed Trump’s new appointees to the Council.

NGA President and CEO Scott D. Pattison, commented, “The Council has always been a critically important body, articulating governors’ positions and concerns on key issues such as the structure of the National Guard, coordination and unity of effort in cybersecurity and improving the response to and recovery from catastrophic disasters.”

In addition, he said the NGA is working closely with the Council to ensure the White House knows the priorities of  governors nationwide.