March 2019 Lecture
Brigadier General (BG) Thomas J. “T.J.” Edwards Jr.
Brigadier General (BG) Thomas J. “T.J.” Edwards Jr. is currently the 16th Chief, General Officer Management Office (GOMO). He was selected to lead GOMO in 2015 by General Mark A. Milley, the 39th Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA).
BG Edwards’ initial Army tour was as an Executive Officer for the 69th Personnel Services Company, in Karlsruhe, Germany. From 1993 to 1996, BG Edwards commanded two separate Batteries at Fort Sill, OK. He next served in the 3rd Infantry Division until 1998 as Chief, Enlisted Strength Manager, and later as Chief, Officer Strength Manager at Fort Stewart, GA. From 1998 to 2000 he served as an Assignments Officer at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC), then based in Alexandria, VA. In 2000, BG Edwards was selected as a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Intern, where he served on the Joint Staff’s J-1, and later served as a Special Assistant to General Eric K. Shinseki, then serving as the Army’s 34th CSA. BG Edwards was at the Pentagon on 9-11, and later helped reconstitute the Army’s G-1 after the terrorist attack. From 2003 to 2004, BG Edwards served as 82nd Airborne Division’s Deputy Adjutant General. In 2004, BG Edwards served as the XVIII Airborne Corps Strength Manager, and later deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from 2005 to 2006. From 2006 to 2008, BG Edwards served a second tour at the Pentagon, working in Army GOMO as the Operations Officer.
From 2008 to 2011, BG Edwards commanded the 9th Battalion, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, with stations in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Amarillo, and El Paso, TX. After attending the Army War College, BG Edwards deployed to Kuwait as Third Army / U.S. Army Central’s G-1 (Lucky 1). Following his G-1 duties, BG Edwards commanded the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Knox, Kentucky from 2013 to 2015. In 2015, BG Edwards returned to the Pentagon upon selection as the Army G-1’s Executive Officer, but was subsequently selected by the CSA to serve as the Chief, GOMO.
BG Edwards is a 1991 Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of South Carolina. He holds a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Oklahoma; a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College; and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. With over two decades of service to the U.S. Army, BG Edwards’ awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (five awards) and other decorations and awards.
Q&A Portion
“What are the three most important leadership skills one must possess or develop to become successful in a command position or staff position?”
“What do you think is the current state of our AG core?”
“As a new AG Officer, what tools do you need to be prepared for that role?”
April 2018 Lecture
Maj. Gen. Joseph R. Calloway
Major General Joseph R. Calloway was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Central Florida in 1987, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. His first assignment was with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), serving there for over five years in a variety of assignments, to include deployment with the Division as the Chief, Personnel Actions Branch during OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.
Following completion of the Officer Advanced Course, Major General Calloway completed consecutive assignments in Heidelberg, Germany: first as the Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Element, Allied Land Forces Central Europe; then as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land). Upon return to the United States, he completed assignments in the Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate, U.S. Army Total Personnel Command and in the General Officer Management Office, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army. Following completion of the Command and General Staff Officer’s Course, he returned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to serve first as the Division Strength Manager, then as the Division G-1 during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Following redeployment from Iraq, he completed his second tour in the General Officer Management Office, serving as the Deputy Chief for Joint Management.
Major General Calloway subsequently commanded the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) Battalion, U.S. Army North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Mons, Belgium after which he served as a Strategic Planner in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1. He then completed Senior Service College at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. He then served as the Secretary Combined Joint Staff for United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea. Following his tour in the Republic of Korea, MG Calloway served as the Chief, General Officer Management Office. He subsequently served as the Director of the Officer Personnel Management Directorate, United States Army Human Resources Command. He assumed duties as the Director, Military Personnel Management, Office of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 in April 2017.
Major General Calloway’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Major General Calloway holds Master of Science degrees from Kansas State University (Education) and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (National Resources Strategy). He and his wife, Laurie, have two daughters.
Q&A Portion
“Could you tell us a little bit about how you have balanced your personal, and professional lives throughout your career and what recommendations you would have for Junior leaders?”
“I would like to know what was your most challenging situation as a company grade officer, and how did you overcome that?
“Where do you see talent management in the next ten years versus the last ten years?”
“How do you think the implementation of IPPS-A will impact the future of the AG core, and what are the challenges that you foresee?”
“Is there a plan to retain higher performing leaders?”
“What stands out as the biggest mistake you’ve seen leaders make? What have you seen as the best practices or keys to a leaders success?”
“Can you expand on soldier readiness management and how it pertains to soldier replacements and unit manning?”
November 2017 Lecture
Major General John P. Johnson – 50th Commander of Fort Jackson
Maj. Gen. John P. “Pete” Johnson assumed command of the U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson as the 50th Commander on 24 June, 2016. Prior to arriving at Fort Jackson, Maj. Gen. Johnson served as the Director of Training, G-3/5/7 in Washington, D.C. Maj. Gen. Johnson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation with a bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy in 1985. He also holds a master’s degree in Operational Analysis from the Naval Post Graduate School and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. Throughout his military career, Maj. Gen. Johnson has served in principal staff leadership positions, joint service positions and has commanded troops from Company-level through Brigade and Combined Joint Task Force-level, including several combat tours during Operations Enduring/Iraqi Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq, Operation Provide Comfort, Iraq and Operation Just Cause, Panama.
Maj. Gen. Johnson’s command assignments include: Deputy Commanding General for Operations, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Currahee, consisting of over 5,000 American, Czech, and Polish service member’s deployed in support of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan with a 25K square mile area of responsibility spanning several Afghan provinces that was roughly the size of West Virginia; Commander, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; Commander, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, Vicenza, Italy
Maj. Gen. Johnson’s principal and joint staff assignments include Director of Training, G-3/5/7, United States Army, Washington, DC; Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, United States Army, Washington, DC; Division G-3, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Special Operations Officer, Joint Special Operations Command, Operation Fervent Archer, Bosnia and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan and during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.
His awards, decorations and military qualification badges include: Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters); Bronze Star Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Combat Infantryman Badge (with 1 Star); Expert Infantryman Badge; Pathfinder Badge; Ranger Tab; Army Staff Identification Badge; Master Parachutist Badge (with Combat Jump Bronze Star).
Major General Johnson is married and has three children.
Q&A Portion
“Has your personal definition of success changed over the years, and if so, how?”
“What do you think is the biggest challenge facing leaders today, and what are some resources junior leaders may access to address that challenge?”
“What methods have you used throughout your career to help balance your personal and professional life?”
“What was your biggest leadership regret, and how did you overcome it?”
“What has been the position that has provided the greatest challenges for you in your career? What were some of those challenges, and how did you overcome them?”
“Who is one of the leaders you always strive to emulate, and what is one of the defining characteristics of that leader?”
“As you moved to different echelons of command what were your primary expectations of your HR leaders?”
“What is your one piece of advice for a junior enlisted NCO, leadership wise?”
“It doesn’t take long for someone to turn on the news and see the civil, racial, and political divides in our country. What lessons can we as leaders bring back to our units to cultivate a culture of inclusivity within the Army?”
“Comparing a Cold War Army vs one that is facing more unstable and smaller political actors how has this new enemy changed the mindsets, training, and professionalism in the senior leadership and the Army in general?”
“As these leaders get ready to go back to their units how would you coach them to be able to take this knowledge and training and embark upon the biggest challenge of getting their peers to do the right thing?”