Maj. Gen. Joseph Richard Baldwin (Rich), Deputy Director of the Army National Guard, entered military service in 1987 and commissioned in 1989 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at the University of North Alabama.
His military career began as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet with D Company, 877th Engineer Battalion and, upon commissioning, was assigned as a platoon leader with B Company, 877th Engineer Battalion. He served as the construction officer and executive officer for an exercise in Panama in 1993 and transferred to the Arizona Army National Guard in 1994 to work as a military technician. While in Arizona, he commanded the 258th Engineer Company, managed the state’s training sites, and served as a brigade level training officer as well as the commander of the 158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
As an AGR officer, MG Baldwin has served as the Division Chief of the Manpower and Resources Division, the ARNG G1, and the AZARNG G3. Then he assumed duties as the Assistant Adjutant General while concurrently serving as the Land Component Commander. Most recently, MG Baldwin served as the Assistant for Director of the Army National Guard Staff (Chief of Staff) for the Army National Guard.
MG Baldwin is an Engineer Officer and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Staff Identification Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and foreign parachutist badges from Germany, Chile, Australia, and the Netherlands.
EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of North Alabama - BS - Education
Touro University (International) - MBA - Military Management
United States Army War College - MSS - Strategic Studies
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Engineer Officer Basic Course
Engineer Officer Advanced Course
United States Army Command and General Staff College
United States Army War College
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS)
Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Army Senior Leader Development Seminar (SLDS)
National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC)
CAPSTONE
ASSIGNMENTS
- Oct 23 – Present Deputy Director, Army National Guard, Arlington, Virginia
- May 21 – Oct 23 National Guard Assistant for Director of the Army National Guard Staff, Arlington, VA
- Jan 19 – May 21 Assistant Adjutant General, Phoenix, AZ; dual-hatted, March 2020 - May 2021, Deputy Commanding General, ARNG (RC), United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence , Fort Leonard Wood, MO
- May 17 – Dec 18 State G-3, State Headquarters, Phoenix, Arizona
- Jun 15 – May 17 Commander, 158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Phoenix, Arizona
- Nov 13 – May 15 Army National Guard G-1, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
- Feb 11 – Nov 13 Division Chief, Army National Guard G-1, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
- Jun 10 – Feb 11 Plans Branch Chief, Army National Guard G-8, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
- Jul 09 – Jun 10 Resident Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
- Nov 08 – Jul 09 Programs Branch Chief, Army National Guard G-8, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
- Aug 05 – Nov 08 Deputy National Guard Advisor, United States Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Camp Victory, Iraq
- Jun 04 – Aug 05 Programs Team Leader, Army National Guard G-8, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
- Feb 02 – Jun 04 Program Analyst, Headquarters Department of Army G-8, Program Analysis and Evaluation Division, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia
- May 01 – Feb 02 Program Analyst, Army National Guard G-8, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
- May 99 – May 01 Plans Analyst, National Guard Bureau G-8, Arlington, Virginia
- Jun 98 – May 99 Assistant Brigade S-3, 98th Troop Command, Phoenix, Arizona
- Sep 97 – Jun 98 Training Site Manager, State Headquarters, Phoenix, Arizona
- Jul 95 – Sep 97 Commander, 258th Engineer Company, Phoenix, Arizona
- Apr 94 – Jul 95 Facilities/Construction Management Engineer, State Headquarters, Phoenix, Arizona
- Nov 93 – Apr 94 Platoon Leader, Company A, 877th Engineer Battalion, Winfield, Alabama
- Apr 93 – Nov 93 Civil Engineer/Executive Officer, Team 877, Fort Clayton, Panama
- May 89 – Apr 93 Platoon Leader, Company B, 877th Engineer Battalion, Vernon, Alabama
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS
Mar 08 – Sep 08 Plans Officer, Multinational Corps-Iraq C-5, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Camp Victory, Iraq.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Superior Unit Award
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and “M” device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Arizona Exceptionally Long Service Medal
Arizona Long Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Arizona Service Ribbon (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Arizona State Active Duty Ribbon
Master Parachutist Badge
The Army Staff Identification Badge
Royal Australian Parachutist Badge
German Parachutist Badge
Chilean Parachutist Badge
Royal Netherlands Army Parachute Badge
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
National Guard Association of the United States
Association of the United States Army
Army Engineer Association
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004, Operations Research and Systems Analysis Trained – National Guard Bureau
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 13 May 1989
First Lieutenant 23 May 1992
Captain 10 June 1994
Major 1 March 1999
Lieutenant Colonel 31 August 2005
Colonel 30 June 2011
Brigadier General 1 January 2019
Major General 24 June 2021
(Current as of August 2023)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.