BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN A. CONLEY
Brig Gen John A. Conley is the Director of Administrative Services (DAS) at Arizona Department of Emergency Military Affairs (DEMA), Phoenix, Arizona. He represents the agency on all critical matters affecting the Division of Administrative Services and manages a broad spectrum of personnel, finance, and mission support functions for the Arizona National Guard and DEMA. As a member of the TAG Council’s State Strategic Engagement Working Group, Brig Gen Conley assists the 54 Adjutants General in the analysis and development of national-level strategy, policy, and legislation affecting the National Guard.
Brig Gen Conley earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant through Army ROTC, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass., in June 1992. After graduating from the University of Arizona College of Law, Brig Gen Conley attended the Army Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course in Charlottesville, Va., in 1996. He served on active duty as Legal Assistance Attorney and later Trial Counsel at Camp Humphreys Army Airfield, Korea. He was assigned as Trial Counsel and later Labor Counselor at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany. After leaving active duty, Brig Gen Conley served as Executive Officer and later Officer in Charge of the largest Army Reserve legal support team in Arizona. In March 2011, Brig Gen Conley transferred to the Arizona Air National Guard. He was the senior legal advisor to both the Air Component Commander, Arizona Air National Guard, and The Adjutant General, Arizona. He directed all Air and Army Judge Advocates, DEMA civilian counsel, and paralegals in the performance of their duties. Brig Gen Conley oversaw Air and Army military justice, operational law, civil law, fiscal law, cyber law, and ethics functions at all command levels. Prior to his current position, Brig Gen Conley served as the Staff Judge Advocate, Arizona Air National Guard and State Judge Advocate, Arizona National Guard.
In his civilian capacity, Brig Gen Conley is a shareholder-attorney whose practice focuses on commercial litigation and employment law in the healthcare industry. He represents physicians, physician groups, and healthcare entities in a variety of complex litigation matters.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Northeastern University, cum laude, Boston, Mass.
1995 Juris Doctor in Law, University of Arizona, Tucson
1996 139th Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS), Charlottesville, Va.
2006 Judge Advocate Reserve Officer Advanced Course TJAGLCS, Charlottesville, Va.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air Force Cyber Law Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 National Security Studies Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2024 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1996 - September 1996, Legal Assistance Attorney, 23rd Area Support Group, U.S. Forces Korea
2. September 1996 - May 1997, Trial Counsel, 23rd Area Support Group, U.S. Forces Korea
3. May 1997 - July 1999, Trial Counsel, V Corps, U.S. Army Europe
4. July 1999 - May 2000, Labor Counselor, V Corps, U.S. Army Europe
5. June 2003 - June 2005, Executive Officer, 75th Legal Support Organization, Team 3, Ariz.
6. June 2005 - March 2011, Officer in Charge, 75th Legal Support Organization, Team 3, Ariz.
7. March 2011 - January 2016, Staff Judge Advocate, 161st Air Refueling Wing, Ariz.
8. February 2015 - January 2017, AMC-West Judge Advocate General Council Liaison, Goldwater Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Ariz.
9. January 2016 - September 2019, Legal Advisor, Joint Task Force Arizona, Ariz.
10. January 2016 - February 2023, Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), Arizona Air National Guard, Ariz.
11. January 2017 - December 2020, Chair, ANG Judge Advocate Working Group on Full-Time JAGs and Paralegals, Goldwater ANGB, Ariz.
12. October 2017 - February 2023, SJA, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Ariz.
13. October 2017 – present, Member, The Adjutant General Council State Strategic Engagement Working Group, Ariz.
14. April 2019 – present, Member, National Guard Bureau Duty Status Reform Working Group, Papago Park Military Reservation, Ariz.
15. January 2023 - present, Chief of Staff, Papago Park Military Reservation, Ariz.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 19, 1992
First Lieutenant Aug. 1, 1996
Captain Aug. 1, 1996
Major April 2, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 13, 2012
Colonel May 25, 2017
Brigadier General Jan. 9, 2023
(Current as of January 2025)
