MAJOR GENERAL JAMES B. GASTON

Assistant Adjutant General, Army Mississippi National Guard

Major General James B. Gaston was appointed Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, Mississippi Army National Guard, in August 2006. As the Assistant Adjutant General, he guides the formulation, development and implementation of all programs and policies affecting the Mississippi Army National Guard and its nearly 10,000 citizen soldiers.

General Gaston began his military career when he enlisted in the United States Army in July 1969, and was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, for duty in Vietnam following his initial entry training. After departing active duty, he continued his military career as an enlisted soldier in the Mississippi Army National Guard until he received a direct commission in July 1981. He has served in command and staff positions in units at every level to include Company, Battalion, Brigade and Major Subordinate Command. General Gaston commanded the 1st Battalion, 198th Armor during the 155th Separate Armored Brigade's 1999 rotation at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, California, and subsequently served as Deputy Brigade Commander for the armored brigade. He was assigned Deputy Commander, 66th Troop Command in 2002, and Commander, 155th Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy) in 2004.

EDUCATION:

1974 Delta State University, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Cleveland, Mississippi
1975 Delta State University, Master of Science, Chemistry, Cleveland, Mississippi
1980 Delta State University, Master of Business Administration, Cleveland, Mississippi
2001 United States Army War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. July 1981 - July 1981, Administrative Service Officer, Company A, 106th Support Battalion, Baldwyn, Mississippi
2. July 1981 - July 1983, Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor, Greenville, Mississippi
3. July 1983 - September 1987, Commander, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor, Indianola, Mississippi
4. September 1987 - March 1990, S-3 Air, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor, Greenville, Mississippi
5. March 1990 - October 1990, S-2, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor, Greenville, Mississippi
6. October 1990 - December 1990, Commander, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor, Moorhead, Mississippi
7. December 1990 - September 1991, Operations Officer, Detachment 1, State Area Command, Jackson, Mississippi
8. September 1991 - April 1992, Military Police Officer, Detachment 1, State Area Command, Jackson, Mississippi
9. April 1992 - March 1995, S-3, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor, Greenville, Mississippi
10. March 1995 - September 1995, Executive Officer, 108th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Senatobia, Mississippi
11. September 1995 - February 1996, Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor (Re-designated), Senatobia, Mississippi
12. February 1996 - June 1996, S-3, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor, Senatobia, Mississippi
13. June 1996 - October 1999, Commander, 1st Battalion, 198th Armor, Amory, Mississippi
14. October 1999 - November 1999, S-3, 155th Enhanced Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
15. November 1999 - April 2000, Director, Plans Operations and Training, Headquarters, State Area Command, Jackson, Mississippi
16. April 2000 - September 2002, Deputy Commander, 155th Enhanced Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
17. September 2002 - January 2004, Deputy Commander, 66th Troop Command, Jackson, Mississippi
18. January 2004 - August 2004, Commander, 155th Enhanced Separate Armored Brigade (Heavy), Tupelo, Mississippi
19. August 2004 - December 2004, Deputy Commander, Army National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard, Jackson, Mississippi
20. December 2004 - July 2006, Director, Joint Staff, Mississippi Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard, Jackson, Mississippi
21. August 2006 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Mississippi National Guard, Mississippi Joint Force Headquarters, Jackson, Mississippi

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Soldier's Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf and 2
Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Vietnam Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hour Glass and 'M' Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Mississippi Magnolia Medal
Mississippi Commendation Medal
Mississippi War Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf)
Mississippi Emergency Service Medal
Mississippi Service School Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Mississippi Longevity Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

General Manager of SUPERVALU Incorporated, located in Indianola, Mississippi.
The company is a food wholesaler providing products and services to 225 independent food retailers in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana. General Gaston is responsible for merchandise warehousing and transportation as well as information technology, human resources, and risk management of the corporate headquarters. He manages a sales budget of $400 million and a logistical expense budget of $22.5 million per year, and supervises over 450 employees in the division headquarters.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:

First Lieutenant 8 July 1981
Captain 12 April 1984
Major 26 November 1991
Lieutenant Colonel 14 August 1996
Colonel 6 July 2000
Brigadier General 7 April 2004
Major General 1 December 2008

(Current as of April 2010)