Joseph Anderson
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army

A native of New York, Joseph Anderson is a 1981 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He holds Masters degrees in Administration from Central Michigan University and National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

His initial duty locations included the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Polk, LA; 193rd Infantry Brigade at Fort Kobbe and Fort Clayton, Republic of Panama, where he commanded C Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 187th Infantry Regiment; and B Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, WA, where he deployed in support of Operation Just Cause.

Upon completion of CGSC, Anderson served as the Majors Assignment Officer at Infantry Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, VA, from 1992 to 1993. He was subsequently assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, HI, where he served as the Battalion S3 in 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry; 1st Brigade S3; Aide-de-Camp to the CG, USARPAC at Fort Shafter; and the 3rd Brigade Executive Officer. He then commanded the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, 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, RI, as an instructor in the Joint Military Operations Department. From July 2002 to July 2004 he commanded the 2nd Brigade and 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY, 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, TX, in August 2006.

General Anderson returned to Iraq in December 2006 to serve as the Multinational Corps-Iraq Chief of Staff for the surge. In June 2008, he was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, KY, 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 subsequently served as the Department of the Army Director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization from August 2010 to November 2011.

He commanded the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, CO, from November 2011 to March 2013.

Current Commands

On 8 February 2014, LTG Anderson assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC). He also serves as the Deputy Commanding General, US Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A), and as the Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC.

Military Education

LTG Anderson's 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.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device
Bronze Star Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster & 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead Device
Kosovo Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Campaign Stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Campaign Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with Silver Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
NATO Medal with Bronze Service Star
Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award)
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Jump Star
Pathfinder Badge
Air Assault Badge
Ranger Tab
Army Staff Identification Badge
Basic Recruiter Identification Badge

He was also awarded Panamanian, Brazilian, German and Thai Parachutist Wings.