BRIGADIER GENERAL YVONNE L. MAYS
Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays is The Adjutant General of New Jersey and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. She commands more than 8,400 Soldiers and Airmen of the New Jersey National Guard and leads, directs, and manages the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in the execution of federal and state missions. In addition, she manages all state veterans’ programs, commissions, and facilities in New Jersey.
Brig. Gen. Mays enlisted in the Air Force in August 1983 and completed Basic Military Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. While serving as an enlisted Airman in the active component and prior to commissioning, she supported numerous operations such as Operation Just Cause and deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. Brig. Gen. Mays earned her commission from the Palmetto Military Academy, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in 1999. Brig. Gen. Mays began her National Guard career as the Director of Personnel and Commander of the Mission Support Flight, 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey in 1999. In 2003, she went on to be the 177 FW Executive Officer before becoming the Deputy Chief of Staff, New Jersey Air National Guard in 2008. In 2009, Brig. Gen. Mays was appointed as the Public Affairs Officer for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. In 2010, she was assigned as Bilateral Affairs Officer to the New Jersey National Guard’s first State Partnership Program with the Republic of Albania, later becoming the New Jersey National Guard’s State Partnership Program Manager. Starting in 2011, Brig. Gen. Mays served several special staff roles to The Adjutant General.
During her tenure as an officer in the New Jersey Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. Mays supported Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom and served multiple roles including Director of Staff and Deputy Joint Task Force Commander supporting New Jersey’s COVID-19 Response Operations. Prior to selection by Governor Philip D. Murphy in July 2024 and New Jersey State Senate Confirmation in October 2024, Brig. Gen. Mays served as the Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey where she was the principal advisor to The Adjutant General and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs on all matters concerning military readiness, mobilizations, homeland security, defense support to civil authorities, human resources, logistics, training, and financial management.
EDUCATION
1983 Basic Military Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
1986 Noncommissioned Officer Prep Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
1991 Noncommissioned Officer Course, Charleston AFB, S.C.
1992 Bachelor of Arts, Education Curriculum Development, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill.
1997 Master of Arts, Human Resources/Management, Webster University, Saint Louis, Mo.
1999 Officer Candidate School, Palmetto Military Academy, U.S. Army, Fort Jackson, S.C.
2000 Personnel Officer School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2004 Expeditionary Aerospace Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2005 Communications Officer School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Defense Institute of Security Assistance, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Crisis Management Course, Harvard Kennedy School, Boston, Mass.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Dual Status Commander Course, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2019 Joint Task Force Commander Course, NORAD, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2019 Safety and Accident Investigation Board, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1983 - December 1985, 305th Aerial Port Squadron McGuire AFB, N.J.
2. December 1985 - December 1986, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
3. December 1986 - October 1989, Altus AFB, Okla.
4. October 1989 - June 1998, 437th Aerial Port Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
5. October 1999 - October 2000, Director of Personnel, 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
6. October 2000 - May 2003, Commander Mission Support Flight, 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
7. May 2003 - June 2008, Wing Executive Officer, 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
8. June 2008 - September 2009, Deputy Chief of Staff-Air, Joint Force Headquarters, McGuire AFB, N.J.
9. September 2009 - September 2010, State Public Affairs Officer, New Jersey National Guard, Trenton N.J.
10. September 2010 - September 2011, Bilateral Affairs Officer, HQ USEUCOM, Tirana, Albania
11. October 2011 - June 2012, State Partnership Program Coordinator NJNG and NGB, Trenton, N.J.
12. June 2012 - December 2017, Executive Officer to The Adjutant General of New Jersey, NJNG, Trenton, N.J.
13. December 2017 - June 2022, Director of Staff, New Jersey Air National Guard - Headquarters, JB-MDL, N.J.
14. June 2022 - November 2023, Mission Support Group Commander, New Jersey Air National Guard, 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
15. November 2023 - July 2024, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, New Jersey Air National Guard - Headquarters, JB-MDL, N.J.
16. July 2024 - October 2024, Acting Adjutant General of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, N.J.
17. July 2024 - Present, The Adjutant General, New Jersey, Lawrenceville, N.J.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 31, 1999
First Lieutenant July 31, 2001
Captain July 31, 2003
Major July 31, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel March 8, 2012
Colonel April 26, 2018
Brigadier General Oct. 28, 2024
(Current as of December 2024)
