Major General Joseph S. Ward Jr. Deputy Director, Army and Air Force Exchange Service

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The Deputy Director

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Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward Jr. is the deputy director of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange), in Dallas, Texas. He plans, trains, equips and leads this organization to meet the needs of field commanders and their troops, whether deployed to forward locations, garrison or training centers. The Exchange operates as a Soldier and Airman owned co-op, with 95 percent of its budget generated from sales. The Exchange is one of the top 50 retail organizations in the United States, with revenue of $10.3 billion per year. It employs approximately 41,000 civilian and military associates and provides retail stores, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, theaters, vending and other services on military installations in all 50 states, five U.S. territories and more than 30 countries.

Maj. Gen. Ward is a native of Groton, Conn. and a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. He was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program in 1983. He has a master's degree in Business Administration from Western New England College and is a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Prior to coming to the Exchange, Maj. Gen. Ward served as the Commandant, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.; he also was Director, Budget Operations and Personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller; he served as the Chief Financial Officer for U.S. Pacific Command and as the principal financial adviser to the combatant commander and staff. His career has also included service in numerous other capacities within the financial management career field, including military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller) and Comptroller, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. He has commanded a comptroller squadron and mission support group. He is a certified defense financial manager.

Maj. Gen. Ward's awards and decorations include the:

  • Distinguished Service Medal
  • Defense Superior Service Medal
  • Legion of Merit
  • Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
  • Air Force Achievement Medal

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