Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward Jr. is the Commandant, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va. JFSC is the premier Department of Defense Joint Professional Military Education institution for operational planning. He leads a highly qualified faculty and staff in the education of national security professionals to plan and execute joint, multinational, and interagency operations to instill a primary commitment to joint, multinational, and interagency teamwork, attitudes and perspectives. The college consists of four schools and graduates receive credit for JPME PhaseII. Graduates of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School also receive a Master of Science degree in joint campaign planning and strategy.
General Ward is a native of Groton, Ct., and a graduate of the University of Connecticut. He was commissioned through the ROTC program in 1983. He has previously served as the Director, Budget Operations and Personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller and also as the Chief Financial Officer for U.S. Pacific Command and as the principal financial adviser to the combatant commander and staff. He has also served in numerous other capacities within the financial management career field, including military assistant to the AssistantSecretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller), and Comptroller, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. He has commanded a comptroller squadron and mission support group. The general is also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and is a certified defense financial manager.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Arts in Economics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.
1990 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1990 Comptroller Staff Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1990 Master Degree Business Administration, Western New England College, Springfield, Mass.
1996 Department of Defense Professional Military Comptroller School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1996 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2002 Distinguished graduate, Master of Science Degree National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C
2006 U.S. Navy Practical Comptroller Course, Naval Postgraduate School, Calif.
2008 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2009 Systems Acquisition Management for General/Flag Officers Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2010 Senior International Defense Management Course, Defense Resource Management Institute, Naval Postgraduate School, Calif.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1984 - December 1988, budget analyst, Headquarters Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
2. December 1989 - August 1993, Comptroller, 28th Air Division, Tinker AFB, Okla.
3. August 1993 - August 1994, budget analyst, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. August 1994 - June 1996, assignment officer, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
5. June 1996 - June 1998, Commander, 437th Comptroller Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
6. June 1998 - June 2000, budget analyst and action officer, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. June 2000 - June 2001, military assistant, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. June 2001 - June 2002, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2002 - June 2004, Deputy Commander, 48th Mission Support Group, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
10. June 2004 - May 2006, Commander, 98th Mission Support Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. May 2006 - June 2008, Comptroller, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii
12. June 2008 - October 2010, Comptroller, Headquarters AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
13. Oct 2010 - August 2011, Director, Budget Operations and Personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
14. August 2011 - present, Commandant, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
May 2006 - June 2008, Comptroller, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, as a colonel
August 2011 - present, Commandant, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk Va. as a brigadier general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Outstanding Contribution to Financial Management & Comptroller, AETC, 1994
Comptroller of the Year, Air Mobility Command, 1997
Comptroller Squadron of the Year, Air Mobility Command & Air Force, 1997
PUBLICATIONS
"The Parade Goes On ...," Inside Air Force, December 2010
"On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!," Air Force Comptroller Magazine, April 2011
"The Chief: Your Charge is to Serve Others", Inside Air Force, April 2011
"Tribute to an American Hero: Maj. Gen. Al Flowers", www.af.mil, January 2012
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 23, 1983
First Lieutenant Sept. 15, 1985
Captain Sept. 15, 1987
Major Oct. 1, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 1998
Colonel June 1, 2004
Brigadier General May 4, 2009
Major General April 6, 2012
(Current as of April 2012)
Printable bio
