National Guard
Brigadier General SIMON L. SCHAEFER
  
Director, Joint Staff - (MN) Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ)
St. Paul, MN
Since: December 2023
 Official Photo
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE  OCS

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
North Dakota State University - BS - Zoology
Saint Cloud State University, MS - Public Safety and Executive Leadership
United States Army War College - MSS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic
Infantry Captain’s Career Course
United States Army Command and General Staff College
United States Army Command and General Staff College, Advanced Operations Course
United States Army War College
Joint Domestic Operations Course (NORTHCOM)
United States Army Judge Advocate General School (Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course)
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Harvard University, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS)
Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Army Senior Leader Development Seminar (SLDS)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S)  None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT
2LT 22 Aug 98
1LT 8 Sep 00
CPT 4 Oct 02
MAJ 28 Aug 07
LTC 25 Jul 12
COL 28 Jun 18
BG 1 Dec 23

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT
Dec 23 Present Director, Joint Staff - (MN) Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), St. Paul, Minnesota; dual-hatted, Dec 24 - Present, Deputy Commanding General, Army National Guard-United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia
Feb 20 Dec 23 Chief of the Joint Staff, Minnesota National Guard, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Dec 17 Jan 20 Chief of Staff, 34th Infantry Division, Rosemount, Minnesota and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (SPARTAN SHIELD) Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
Dec 16 Dec 17 G3, 34th Infantry Division, Rosemount, Minnesota
Dec 15 Dec 16 J1-Army Division Chief (MILPO), Joint Force Headquarters - Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Sep 12 Dec 15 Commander, 2-135th Infantry, Mankato, Minnesota
Jun 12 Sep 14 Officer-In-Charge, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Bloomington, Minnesota
Jun 12 Sep 12 Executive Officer, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Bloomington, Minnesota
Jul 11 Jun 12 Secretary to the General Staff, Joint Force Headquarters - Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Dec 09 Jul 11 J-33 Current Operations Chief, Joint Force Headquarters - Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Sep 07 Dec 09 Executive Officer, 1-34th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Bloomington, Minnesota
Sep 06 Sep 07 Rear-Detachment Commander, 1-34th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Bloomington, Minnesota
Aug 06 Dec 09 Officer-In-Charge, 1-34th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Bloomington, Minnesota
Jun 05 Aug 06 Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS) / Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO), Saint John’s University ROTC, Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Aug 03 Jun 05 Commander, D Company, 2-135th Infantry (AASLT), Albert Lea, Minnesota and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Bagram, Afghanistan
May 03 Aug 03 S3 (Air), 2-135th Infantry (AASLT), Mankato, Minnesota
May 02 Feb 04 Assistant Professor of Military Science (APMS)/Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO), Saint John’s University ROTC, Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Nov 01 Apr 02 Air Defense Coordination Officer (ADCOORD), F Battery, 1-188th Air Defense Artillery, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Sep 01 Mar 02 Officer In Charge (OIC), National Guard Security Operations, Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Sep 00 Nov 01 Stinger Platoon Leader, F Battery 1-188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Jul 99 Sep 00 Scout Platoon Leader, F Battery 1-188th Air Defense Artillery, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Jan 99 Jun 99 Student, Officer Basic Course, Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bliss, Texas
Sep 98 Dec 98 Scout Platoon Leader, B Battery, 1-188th Air Defense Artillery, Grand Forks, North Dakota

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Chief of Staff, 34th Infantry Division, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (SPARTAN SHIELD) Camp Arifjan, Kuwait Nov 18 - Jul 19 Colonel
Commander, D Company, 2-135th Infantry (AASLT), OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Bagram, Afghanistan Mar 04 - Jun 05 Captain

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Legion of Merit (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Good Conduct Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 Silver Hourglass and “M” Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 4)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Basic Parachutist Badge - Jumpmaster
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Special Operations Diver
Ranger Tab
3rd Ranger Battalion Combat Service Identification Badge
34th Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
Belgium Parachutist Badge

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Director of the Joint Staff, for the Minnesota National Guard. Primary advisor to the Adjutant General on joint matters and responsible for the operating capability of Minnesota's joint staff. Responsibilities include providing a competent ready force, emergency response operations, strategic planning, optimal force structure, and emergency response communications. Additional focus areas include Oversight of the 55th Civil Support Team (CST) and the National Guard Arctic Interest Council (NGAIC).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers (AMEM)
Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA)
Ranger Regiment Association – Life Member
Veterans of Foreign Wars – Life Member

 

 

As of: 25 Mar 25

 

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