National Guard
Major General (WV) JAMES D. SEWARD
  
The Adjutant General, West Virginia
Charleston, WV
Since: February 2025
 Official Photo
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE  Direct Commission

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of South Dakota - BS - Political Science
University of South Dakota - D.Ed. - Law
United States Army War College - MS - Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course
Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course
United States Army Command and General Staff College
United States Army War College

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S)  None Recorded

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT
1LT 24 Jul 00
CPT 7 Oct 02
MAJ 25 Apr 07
LTC 24 Jan 12
COL 8 Jun 19
BG 24 Jan 25

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT
Feb 25 Present The Adjutant General, West Virginia, Charleston, West Virginia
Jun 18 Jan 25 Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Forces Headquarters, Topeka, Kansas
Jun 17 May 18 Command Judge Advocate, 635th Regional Support Group, Topeka, Kansas
Jun 15 May 17 Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Force Headquarters, Rapid City, South Dakota
Mar 10 May 15 Command Judge Advocate, 109th Regional Support Group, Rapid City, South Dakota
Sep 09 Mar 10 Judge Advocate General, Joint Force Headquarters, Rapid City, South Dakota
Aug 08 Sep 09 Command Judge Advocate, 109th Regional Support Group, Rapid City, South Dakota
Jan 07 Sep 09 Trial Counsel and Assistant Command Judge Advocate, 109th Engineer Battalion, Rapid City, South Dakota
Jul 05 Jan 07 Trial Counsel, 109th Engineer Battalion, Rapid City, South Dakota
Jul 04 Jul 05 Trial Counsel and Acting Command Judge Advocate, 109th Engineer Battalion, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
Sep 00 Jul 04 Trial Counsel, 109th Engineer Battalion, Rapid City, South Dakota
Jul 00 Sep 00 Command Judge Advocate, 109th Engineer Battalion, Rapid City, South Dakota

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Trial Counsel and Acting Command Judge Advocate, 109th ENGR GP/CTF, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Bagram, Afghanistan Apr 04 - May 05 Captain

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Good Conduct Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Kansas National Guard State Emergency Duty Service Ribbon
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal
South Dakota Distinguished Service Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
South Dakota Emergency Operations Ribbon
South Dakota Recruiting Ribbon
South Dakota National Guard Service Award (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
South Dakota Distinguished Unit Award

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of West Virginia
2021 – Present, Licensed, State Bar of Wyoming, bar number 6-4181
2013 – Present, Licensed, Supreme Court of the United States
2007 – 2014, Licensed, State Bar of Wyoming, bar number 6-4181
2002 – Present, admitted to practice, United States District Court, District of South Dakota
1999 – Present, Licensed, State Bar of South Dakota, bar number 2869

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2021, Distinguished Graduate, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
2021 – Present, Director of Veterans Justice Commission, Council on Criminal Justice, Washington, DC
2019 – 2021, Vice-Chair, Council on Criminal Justice, Washington, DC
2016, Servant Leader Award, Governor Dennis Daugaard, Pierre, South Dakota
2015, Outstanding Leadership in Justice Reform, Governor Dennis Daugaard, Pierre, South Dakota
2014 – 2018, Commissioner, South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission, Pierre, South Dakota
2008 – 2011, Commissioner, State Bar of South Dakota, Pierre, South Dakota
2006, Honor Graduate, Judge Advocate Advanced Course, Charlottesville, Virginia
2002 – 2010, Commissioner, Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission, Pierre, South Dakota
2001 – 2006, Elected State’s Attorney (District Attorney equivalent), Butte County, South Dakota
1993 – 1995, 1996 – 1997, Elected City Alderman, Vermillion City Council, Vermillion South Dakota
1989, Distinguished Honor Graduate, Primary Leadership Development Course, Ft. Polk, Louisiana

 

 

As of: 28 Mar 25

 

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