National Guard
Brigadier General ISABEL R. SMITH
  
Director, Joint Staff - (NY) Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ)
Latham, NY
Since: February 2021
 Official Photo
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE  OCS

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
Mount St Mary's University - BA - Human Services
Long Island University - MS - Counseling
United States Army War College - MSS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Quartermaster Officer Basic Course
Combined Logistics Captains Career Course
Combat Service Support Pre-Command Course
United States Army War College
Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC)
Army Senior Leader Development Seminar (SLDS)
Senior Executives in National and International Security (SENIS)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S)  Spanish

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT
2LT 14 Mar 95
1LT 13 Mar 97
CPT 18 Jun 99
MAJ 4 Dec 03
LTC 16 Jul 09
COL 5 Aug 15
BG 12 Feb 21

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT
Feb 21 Present Director, Joint Staff - (NY) Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), Latham, New York; dual-hatted, Oct 22 - Sep 24, Deputy Commanding General, Army National Guard-Combined Arms Support Command/Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, VA
Nov 20 Feb 21 Director J3, Joint Forces Headquarters-New York, Latham, New York
Oct 16 Oct 20 Chief of Staff, 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, Cortlandt Manor, New York
Nov 15 Oct 16 Executive Officer, Office of the Adjutant General, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York
Nov 13 Oct 15 Deputy J4, Joint Force Headquarters, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York
Jul 11 Nov 13 Executive Officer, 106th Regional Training Institute, New York Army National Guard, Cortlandt Manor, New York
Apr 10 Jun 11 Deputy Team Chief, Iraqi Police National Headquarters Team, New York Army National Guard, Latham, New York and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM/OPERATION NEW DAWN, Iraq
Oct 08 Apr 10 Battalion Commander, Special Troops Battalion, 369th Sustainment Brigade, New York Army National Guard, New York City, New York
Oct 07 Sep 08 Company Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, Valhalla, New York
Oct 03 Sep 07 Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, Valhalla, New York
Nov 02 Sep 03 Administrative Officer, 531st Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, Cortlandt Manor, New York
Mar 98 Oct 02 Administrative Officer, Detachment 7, Headquarters, State Area Readiness Command, New York Army National Guard, Peekskill, New York
Sep 96 Mar 98 S1, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 369th Corps Support Battalion, New York Army National Guard, New York City, New York
Nov 95 Aug 96 Assistant Operations Officer, 27th Support Center, New York Army National Guard, New York City, New York
Aug 95 Nov 95 Student, Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Fort Lee, Virginia
Mar 94 Aug 95 Assistant Operations Officer, 27th Support Center, New York Army National Guard, New York City, New York

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Deputy Team Chief, Iraqi Police National Headquarters Team, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM/OPERATION NEW DAWN, Iraq Jun 10 - Jun 11 Lieutenant Colonel

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Good Conduct Medal (with 3 Bronze Loops)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism-Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Serves as the Director, Joint Staff for the New York National Guard, Latham, New York. Responsible for the development and implementation of State strategy, policy, plans, initiatives, and concepts related to command, control, operation and management of joint functions of the JFHQ relevant to domestic operations; the State Partnership Program; federal and state homeland security programs; interagency and intergovernmental coordination; and civil support. This includes the direction and management of Homeland Response Force, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Task Forces, as well as Civil Support Teams, the Counterdrug Task Force, and Joint Task Force Empire Shield, which maintains over 780 Soldiers and Airmen on State Active Duty to provide security at major ports, terminals, and transportation hubs in and around New York City. Since 26 September 2022, responsible for the Asylum Seeker Mission in NYC and Buffalo, NY with a total of over 2,100 service members on state active duty (SAD). At the direction of the Governor on 6 March 2024,(JTF-ES) began supporting the subways in NYC to serve as a visible deterrent to potential threats and provide a sense of security to the public that aims to create a safer commuting environment. The collaboration between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department (MTAPD), the New York Police Department (NYPD), the NYSP, and JTF-ES embodies a unified front against the specter of violence and terrorism.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
2014 National Guard Association of the United States
2014 Military Association of New York

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2017, Latina Style Distinguished Military Service Award, Latina Style Award Magazine
April 2021 - Present, Joint Diversity Executive Council Vice Chair Region II, National Guard Bureau (Virtual) Latham, New York

 

 

As of: 24 Jan 25

 

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