Major General Joseph J. Taluto assumed duties as The Adjutant General for the State of New York on 23 January 2006. Prior to this assignment he was assigned as the Commander, 42nd Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard. General Taluto commanded the Division and Task Force Liberty during its historic deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom III 2004 - 2005. He also commanded a Joint Task Force of some 2,000 Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines during New York State's response to the events of September 11th, 2001.

The General's military service began in 1965 as an enlisted Soldier in the New York Army National Guard. He was commissioned through the New York Army National Guard Officer Candidate School in 1968 and completed the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course. After a platoon leader assignment in the Nike-Hercules Missile Program, General Taluto transferred to Armor and held a variety of positions in the 1st Battalion 210th Armor, including command positions in three companies, while completing the Armor Officer Advance Course. After serving in operations officer assignments at several levels of command, he was assigned as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, with subsequent assignments as Chief of Staff, 42nd Infantry Division, Chief of Staff, State Area Command, Assistant Division Commander, 27th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), and Deputy Commander Maneuver, 42nd Infantry Division (M), New York Army National Guard.

EDUCATION:

1986 Regents College, State University New York , Bachelor of Science, Liberal Arts, Albany, New York
1995 United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. August 1968 - October 1969, Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, New York Army National Guard, Albany New York
2. November 1969 - April 1970, Shop Officer, 205th Light Company (-), New York Army National Guard, Gloversville, New York
3. May 1970 - November 1971, Platoon Leader, Battery B, 1st Battalion (HERC) 244th Artillery, New York Army National Guard, Rocky Point, New York
4. November 1971 - August 1972, Liaison Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
5. September 1972 - December 1972, Company Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
6. December 1972 - July 1975, S-3 Air, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
7. July 1975 - September 1975, Commander, Company C, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
8. September 1975 ' September 1976, S-3 Air, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
9. September 1976 - May 1977, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
10. May 1977 - September 1977, Commander, Company A, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
11. September 1977 - December 1979, S-1, 1st Battalion 210th Armor, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
12. January 1980 - February 1981, Assistant Operations Officer, 27th Support Center, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
13. Mar 1981 - September 1983, Security, Plans, Operations Officer, 27th Support Center, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
14. October 1983 - January 1986, S-3, Headquarters Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, Albany, New York
15. February 1986 - June 1986, Executive Officer, Headquarters Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York
16. July 1986 - November 1989, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York
17. December 1989 - February 1993, Chief of Staff, 42nd Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard, Troy, New York
18. February 1993 - March 1993, Deputy Chief of Staff, State Area Command, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York
19. March 1993 - April 1994, Chief of Staff, State Area Command, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York
20. May 1994 - June 1995, Assistant Division Commander, 27th Brigade 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), New York Army National Guard, Syracuse, New York
21. June 1995 - December 2000, Chief of Staff, 42nd Infantry Division (M), New York Army National Guard, Troy, New York
22. December 2000 - October 2002, Deputy Commander Maneuver, 42nd Infantry Division (M), New York Army National Guard, Troy, New York
23. October 2002 - April 2004, Commander, 42nd Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard, Troy, New York
24. May 2004 - January 2006, Commander, 42nd Infantry Division (Task Force Liberty), Fort Drum, New York and Tikrit, Iraq (OIF III)
25. January 2006 - February 2010, The Adjutant General, New York, Joint Forces Headquarters, Latham, New York

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, Bronze Hourglass, M, and 2 devices)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

OTHER AWARDS:

Awarded General Raymond S. McClain Medal, Association of the United States Army 2006

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

As a State Employee, Major General Taluto is The Adjutant General for the State of New York.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

Second Lieutenant ARNG 16 August 1968
First Lieutenant ARNG 15 August 1971
Captain ARNG 15 August 1973
Major ARNG 27 Feb 1981
Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 2 April 1985
Colonel ARNG 6 September 1988
Brigadier General ARNG 5 January 2001
Major General ARNG 31 March 2004

(Current as of February 2010)

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.

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