Biography

Major General Joseph Anderson graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1981 and holds Masters degrees in Administration from Central Michigan University and National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. MG Anderson has served in all five types of infantry units - Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger, Light, and Mechanized. His initial duty locations include the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Polk, Louisiana; 193d Infantry Brigade at Fort Kobbe and Fort Clayton, Republic of Panama where he commanded C Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 187th Infantry Regiment; and the 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington where he deployed in support of Operation Just Cause as the B Company Commander.

Upon completion of CGSC, MG Anderson served as the Majors Assignment Officer at Infantry Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, Virginia from 1992-1993. He was subsequently assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he served as the Battalion S3 in 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry; 1st Brigade S3; Aide-de-Camp to the CG, USARPAC at Fort Shafter; and the 3d Brigade Executive Officer. He then commanded the 2d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he initially deployed in support of Task Force Hawk in Albania and subsequently led the first U.S. ground forces into Kosovo for Operation Joint Guardian.

Following completion of the College of Naval Warfare in 2000 he remained in Newport, Rhode Island as an instructor in the Joint Military Operations Department. From July 2002 to July 2004 he commanded the 2d Brigade and 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I; he then served as the Division Chief of Staff. In February 2005 he was assigned as the Executive Officer to the Secretary of the Army and then became the III Corps Chief of Staff at Fort Hood, Texas in August 2006. MG Anderson returned to Iraq in December 2006 to serve as the Multinational Corps-Iraq Chief of Staff for the surge. In June 2008, MG Anderson was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky until July 2009. He then returned to Iraq in August 2009 to serve as the Multinational Force/United States Forces - Iraq Chief of Staff for the transition and initial drawdown. He recently served as the HQDA Director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization from August 2010 to October 2011.

His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Naval War College. MG Anderson's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, Bronze Star Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal with silver oak leaf cluster and four bronze oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead, NATO Medal with bronze service star, Kosovo Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with one silver service star, Armed Forces Service Medal, GWOT Service and Expeditionary Medals, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge (2d Award), Master Parachutist Wings with Bronze Star, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Staff Identification Badge, Recruiter Badge and Panamanian, Brazilian, German, and Thai Jump Wings.