The
Adjutant General, Kentucky National Guard
Major General John Russell Groves, Jr. was initially appointed as the Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by Governor Paul E. Patton on December 12, 1995. He was re-appointed again on December 9, 1999. As adjutant general he serves as the principal military advisor to the Governor and as Commander of the Kentucky Army/Air National Guard. He is responsible for training, equipping and preparing units and personnel for their peacetime and wartime missions in accordance with Department of the Army and Air Force directives. He supervises and administers the distribution of state and federal funds as well as equipment allocated to the Kentucky National Guard. General Groves is responsible for the organization and training of the personnel assigned to implement the selective service system in the Commonwealth in the event of a national emergency as directed by the President. He also oversees the state Divisions of Emergency Management and Air Transport.
General Groves has more than 34 years of military service. After four years of enlisted experience, he was commissioned as an Infantry officer in 1968.
On June 1, 1997, he was selected by the Secretary of Defense for membership on the Reserve Forces Policy Board.
General Groves is on a leave of absence from the University of Kentucky where he is the Assistant Dean of the College of Architecture. He is a registered architect and licensed attorney.
1967 Airborne Course, Fort Benning, GA
1968 Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, GA
1969 University of Kentucky-BS Degree Architecture, Lexington, KY
1972 University of Kentucky-Juris Doctor Law, Lexington, KY
1972 Instructor Training Course, 1st US Army
1974 Infantry Officer Basic Course, Fort Benning, GA
1976 Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, The Judge Advocate School
1980 Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course (Extension)
1981 Infantry Officer Advanced Course (Extension)
1986 Command & General Staff Course, USAC&CS College
1988 Air Assault School, Fort Campbell, KY
1988 Air Assault Rappel Master Course, Fort Campbell, KY
1988 Special Warfare Course, Fort Bragg, NC
1990 Engineer Pre-Command Course, Fort Leonardwood, MO
1990 Senior Officer Log Management Course, USAARMC
1991 Spanish Course, 2nd US Army, Fort Gilliem, GA
1992 University of Kentucky PH D, Philosophy, Lexington, KY
1994 United States Army War College, USASWC
1997 NGB-Mountain Warfare Course, ARNG Mountain Warfare School
1. Jun 68 - Aug 68, Student, Infantry School, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Fort Benning, GA
2. Aug 68 - Jun 71, Company E, 3rd Battalion, 400 Regiment, 3d Brigade, 100th Division USAR Barbourville, KY
3. Jun 71 - Feb 73, USAR Control Group, St Louis, MO
4. Feb 73 - Jun 73, 389th Military Intelligence Detachment, (SF GP) USAR
5. Jun 73 - Jul 74, USAR Control Group, St Louis, MO
6. July 74 - Aug 76, Executive Officer and later Company Commander, Company C 1st 149th Infantry (Mechanized), Barbourville, KY
7. Sep 76 - Sep 85, Detachment Commander, later Comptroller, later Facilities Engineer, Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, Frankfort, Kentucky
8. Sep 85 - Apr 86, Assistant Division Engineer, 206th Engineer Battalion, Richmond KY
9. May 86 - Jan 88, Facilities Engineer, Headquarters State Area Command, Kentucky Army National Guard
10. Feb 88 - Jul 90, Commandant, Kentucky Military Academy, Fort Knox, Kentucky
11. Aug 90 - Jul 91, Battalion Commander, 206th Engineer Battalion, Richmond, Kentucky
12. Jul 92 - Jul 93, Facilities Engineer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Frankfort, Kentucky
13. Jul 93 - Jul 94, Student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
14. Jul 94 - Present, Excess , later Director of Facilities, later The Adjutant General of Kentucky, Headquarters State Area Command, Frankfort, Kentucky
Meritorious Service Medal (with Two Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with One Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Component Achievement Medal (with One Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with One Gold Hour Glass)
Army Service Ribbon
Air Assault Badge
Parachutist Badge
Special Forces TAB
2LT OCS/RC/USAR 20 Aug 68
1LT USAR 19 Aug 71
CPT ARNG 28 Oct 75
MAJ ARNG 29 OCT 81
LTC ARNG 09 Jul 87
COL ARNG 18 Nov 91
BG ARNG 19 Sep 96
MG ARNG 30 Jul 98
(Current as of April 2000)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.