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Major General John S. Kem, U.S. Army Commandant, U.S. Army War College
MG John S. Kem is the 51st Commandant of the U.S. Army War College. Kem was commissioned in 1985 through the United States Military Academy (USMA) at
West Point, NY, where he graduated as a distinguished cadet and earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He later earned a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration (Kellogg Business School) from Northwestern University. His military education includes
the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed
Forces where he earned a Master’s of Science in National Resource Management. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia and a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Most recently, MG Kem served as the first Provost of the Army University and Deputy Commandant of the Command and General Staff College (CGSC). He oversaw the reorganization of the Army’s education enterprise into a university structure, maximizing efforts to achieve valid academic credit for Soldiers’ education and experience, consolidating and improving the Curriculum and Faculty Development Programs and developing the Army University Press, the publishing arm of the Army University that includes “Military Review,” “The NCO Journal,” and the Combat Studies Institute. Additionally, MG Kem was responsible for the day-to-day operations of CGSC including: the Command and General Staff School, the School of Advanced Military Studies, the School for Command Preparation, the Army Management Staff College, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Fort Benning, GA, and the Warrant Officer Career College at Fort Rucker, AL.
MG Kem’s previous command assignments include the Commanding General United States Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division in Portland, OR from 2013 to 2015; the Europe District, North Atlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 2008 to 2011; the 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Germany, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from 2003 to 2005, and Company A, 307th Engineer Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC, from 1991 to 1992.
Previous assignments include serving as Chief, Programs Division, Office of the Chief, Legislative Liaison, Washington; Director, Coalition-Joint Engineering Directorate, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan; Executive Officer to the Director Joint Improved Explosive Device Defeat Organization, Washington; Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Washington; Congressional Fellow, Washington; Operations Officer, 10th Engineer Battalion and Operations Officer, 3rd Engineer Brigade, Fort Stewart, GA; and Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, USMA. During the early part of his career, he also served as a CPT in the 307th Engineer Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm; as a LT in the 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, West Germany, and Boeselager Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division.
MG Kem’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (w/Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (w/Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal (w/7 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Army Staff Identification Badge.
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