Brig. Gen. Stephanie S. Samenus serves as the Chief of Staff, Iowa Air National Guard, Johnston, Iowa. In this capacity, she has leadership oversight of more than 1,900 personnel ensuring readiness to support mission capability for state and federal requirements. She also serves as the ANG Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Recruiting Command and the ANG Assistant to the Director of Manpower and Personnel, J-1.
Brig. Gen. Samenus started her military career with the Naval Reserve as a Supply Corps Officer-Fleet Industrial Supply Center in 1993 and remained there until 1998 when she joined the Iowa Air National Guard, 185th Fighter Wing. Career highlights include assignments to command at the flight and group level with multiple deployments including Afghanistan, Guam, Turkey, Japan and Germany. General Samenus served as the Course Director of the Air National Guard Squadron Commanders Course, Team Lead for the Air National Guard Advise and Assist Team in Puerto Rico for hurricane recovery efforts. Additionally, she was Commander of the Joint Task Force West for the State of Iowa in response to COVID-19, 185th Air Refueling Wing Mission Support Group Commander and Vice Wing Commander. Prior to her current position, Brig. Gen. Samenus was the Director of Manpower and Personnel, Space Operations, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Double Major in Accounting and Business Management, Missouri Western State University, Saint Joseph, Mo.
1993 Naval Supply Corps Officer School, Athens, Ga.
1994 Master of Business Administration, University of South Dakota, Vermillion
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Public Affairs Qualification Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Executive Officer Education Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Commanders Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2013 Air Force Emergency Operations Center Director Course, Sioux City, Iowa
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School - Hybrid, Joint Forces Staff College, Naval Support Activity, Norfolk, Va., by correspondence
2022 Space Executive Course, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
2023 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Senior Leader Orientation Course, JB Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1993 - October 1995, Training Officer, San Diego Naval Station, Calif. and Naval Reserve Center, Iowa
2. October 1995 - December 1998, Administrative Officer, Japan and Naval Reserve Command, Sioux Falls, S.D.
3. December 1998 - December 2001, Budget Officer, 185th Fighter Wing, Sioux City, Iowa
4. December 2001 - November 2005, Community Manager, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa
5. November 2005 - March 2006, Comptroller, 185th ARW, Sioux City, Iowa
6. March 2006 - July 2009, Executive Officer, 185th ARW, Sioux City, Iowa
7. July 2009 - October 2011, Vice Wing Commander, 185th ARW, Sioux City, Iowa (January 2011 – March 2011, Commander, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Bagram, Afghanistan)
8. October 2011 - January 2020, Commander, Mission Support Group, 185th ARW, Sioux City, Iowa
9. January 2020 - June 2021, Vice Wing Commander, 185th ARW, Sioux City, Iowa (April 2020 – June 2020, Commander, Joint Task Force - West, Sioux City, Iowa)
10. June 2021 - November 2022, Director, Manpower and Personnel, S1, National Guard Bureau Space Operations, Washington, D.C.
11. November 2022 - Present, Chief of Staff - Air, Iowa National Guard, Joint Forces Headquarters, Johnston, Iowa; dual-hatted, April 2024 - Present, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Recruiting Command, Randolph AFB, Texas; dual-hatted, November 2023 - March 2024 and February 2025 - Present, ANG Assistant to the Director of Manpower and Personnel (NGB J1), Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2023 - March 2024, ANG Assistant to the Director of Manpower and Personnel (NGB J1), Va., as a brigadier general
2. January 2025 – Present, ANG Assistant to the Director of Manpower and Personnel (NGB J1), Va., as a brigadier general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFLIATIONS
Permanent member, Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants
Permanent member, National Guard Association of the United States
Permanent member, Iowa National Guard Officers Association
Permanent member, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
Past President, Girls Inc.
Past President, Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
Past Treasurer, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
Past Treasurer, Siouxland Community Foundation
Permanent member, American Legion
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant (Ensign) Sept. 3, 1993
First Lieutenant (Lieutenant Junior Grade) Sept. 3, 1995
Captain Aug. 1, 1997
Major Aug. 11, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 21, 2005
Colonel Jan. 1, 2013
Brigadier General Nov. 1, 2022
(Current as of February 2025)