BRIGADIER GENERAL JULIA J. CLECKLEY

Retired September 30, 2004

Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard for Human Resource Readiness

Brigadier General Julia J. Cleckley assumed duties as Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C. on July 1, 2002. As the Special Assistant to the Director for Human Resource Readiness, she assists the Director with Human Resources programs and policies affecting the Army National Guard and its more than 350,000 citizen soldiers.

Brigadier General Julia J. Cleckley began her military career in the Women's Army Corps (WAC). She resumed her military service by joining the New York Army National Guard in 1976. In April 2001, she became the first woman to be assigned as the Chief, Human Resources Officer (G-1) for Army National Guard, where she was responsible for providing personnel, manpower, health programs, policy guidance and resources to enable the 54 States and Territories to achieve optimum levels of personnel readiness.

EDUCATION:

1976 Hunter College - BA Degree - Psychology and Education
1985 Golden Gate University - MS Degree Human Resources Management
1989 Mobilization Readiness Course
1990 Command and General Staff Course
1993 Department of the Army Inspector General Course
1993 United States Army War College (Tufts University, MA - Fellowship)

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Jan 77 - May 80, Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Training Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Brigade, 42d Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard, New York, New York
2. Jun 80 - May 83, Equal Opportunity Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Brigade, 42d Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard, New York, New York
3. Jun 83 - May 85, Assistant Professor of Military Science, Headquarters, 1st Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina w/duty at Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia
4. Jun 85 - Jul 87, Army National Guard Advisor, US Army ATSC, Fort Eustis, Virginia
5. Jul 87 - May 90, Chief, Military Personnel Management Branch, Army National Guard, Personnel Center, Falls Church, Virginia
6. May 90 - Feb 92, Reserve Incentives Management Staff Officer, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (ODCSPER), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. Jul 92 - Jun 93, Senior Service College (Fellowship), Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts
8. Jun 93 - Jun 94, Chief, Inspections & Analysis Division, Office of The Inspector General, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. Jun 94 - May 95, Chief, Personnel Policy Division, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
10. Jun 96 - Mar 01, Chief, Personnel Division, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
13. Apr 01 - Jun 02, Chief, Human Resources, National Guard Bureau, Arlington Virginia
12. Jul 02 - Present, Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard for Human Resource Readiness, National Guard Bureau, Arlington Virginia

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

Brigadier General Cleckley is the first African-American female line officer to be promoted to Brigadier General in the Army National Guard. She was also the first African-American woman to be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Army National Guard's Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program and the first woman to be assigned as division chief at the National Guard Bureau.

Brigadier General Cleckley is a recipient of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Roy Wilkins Renowned Service Award, a military award that recognizes excellence in community service and mentorship. She also Chairs the Army National Guard Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Committee. BG Cleckley is the military special assistant to the President of the Federally Employed Women (FEW). She is a member of the Hunter College Hall of Fame.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

1LT ARNG 12 Jan 77
CPT ARNG 28 Apr 81
MAJ ARNG 1 May 85
LTC ARNG 15 May 90
COL ARNG 24 Apr 94
BG (LINE) ARNG 1 Sep 02

(Current as of October 2007)