Brigadier General Jed J. French
Brig. Gen. Jed J. French is the Chief Of Staff, New Hampshire Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Concord, New Hampshire. He is responsible for the coordination and direction of JFHQ staff activities in support of over 1,300 members of the NHANG prepared for contingency and homeland defense operations of both federal and state missions. He is a principle advisor to the Adjutant General and the Air Component Commander responsible for strategic planning, readiness initiatives, budget execution, force management, recruiting and retention.
General French enlisted in the United States Army in 1983. He served as a Cavalry Scout for two years in West Germany patrolling the East German-West German border. After a break in service he received his direct commission in the NHANG as a Judge Advocate in 1999. In 2006 he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq as the Executive Officer of the combined review and release board with JTF-134. In 2010-2011 General French served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as the Deputy Director of the Legal Operations Directorate of CJIATF-435. General French served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 157th Air Refueling Wing, NHANG from 2002-2012 and as the N.H. JFHQ Judge Advocate from 2012-2015.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, summa cum laude, University of Southern Maine
1994 Juris Doctor, University of Maine School of Law, Portland, Maine
2013 Air War College (AWC), by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1999 - March 2002, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate -157th ARW, Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.
2. March 2002 - February 2012, Staff Judge Advocate -157th ARW, Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.
3. February 2012 - October 2015, Joint Staff Judge Advocate - JFHQ, New Hampshire National Guard, N.H.
4. October 2015 - January 2018, ANG Judge Advocate Assistant to National Guard Bureau Office of the Chief Counsel, Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.
5. January 2018 - Present, Chief of Staff, Joint Force HQs, Concord, New Hampshire
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster and bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with three Bronze oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass, “M” Device and Numeral 3
Army Service Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
State District Court Judge
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
The United States Air Force 2008 M.G. Robert Gruber Award for Excellence in Teaching
Maine State Bar Association 2010 Family Law Achievement Award
Judge Advocates Association 2012 Outstanding Career Judge Advocate Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant Mar. 20, 1999
Captain Apr. 6, 2001
Major May 19, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel Jun. 24, 2009
Colonel Dec. 20, 2013
Brigadier General Jan. 16, 2018
(Current as of April 2018)
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