Joseph R . Inge Lieutenant General Joseph R . Inge concluded a 38 - year career as an army officer as Deputy Commander , United States Northern Command , and Vice Commander , U . S . Element , North American Aerospace Defense Command ( USELEMNORAD ) , headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base , Colorado in 2007 . As Deputy Commander , United States Northern Command , General Inge helped lead the command responsible to deter , prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States , its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility and , as directed by the President or Secretary of Defense , provide defense support of civil authorities including consequence management operations . Youth and education . Joseph Richard Inge was born on August 20 , 1947 , in Chase City , Virginia . He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor and awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture upon graduation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and its Army ROTC program on June 4 , 1969 . He holds a Master of Arts in Personnel Management and Administration from Central Michigan University . His military education includes the Armor Basic and Advanced Courses , the Army Command and General Staff College , and the U . S . Army War College . Army career . Between April 1970 and June 1975 General Inge served as a Company Commander in the 33rd Armor , 3rd Armored Division in Germany and the 73rd Armor , 2nd Infantry Division in Korea . From June 1976 to March 1978 , General Inge served as Area Commander of the Jacksonville , Florida Recruiting District . He then transferred to Alexandria , Virginia to serve as Assignment Officer , Armor Branch Captains , for the United States Army Military Personnel Center until July 1980 . He returned to Germany in June 1981 to serve as battalion and then brigade Executive Officer for elements of the 3rd Infantry Division . In March 1984 he was assigned as a battalion commander in the 64th Armor , 3rd Infantry Division in Germany . From June 1987 to April 1991 General Inge held several positions in Washington , D . C . , including Executive Officer , Technology Management Office , Office of the Chief of Staff , Army ; Executive Officer to the Director of the Army Staff , Office of the Chief of Staff , Army ; and Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations , Logistics and Environment . In April 1991 he was appointed a Brigade Commander in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood , Texas . Following this assignment he served as Chief of Staff , U . S . Army Combined Arms Center , Fort Leavenworth , Kansas from May 1993 to September 1993 . He then returned to Washington , D . C . to serve as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington , D . C . until August 1995 . Following this assignment , General Inge was named Assistant Division Commander ( Support ) of the 3rd Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) at Fort Stewart , Georgia , where he served until July 1996 . He then returned to Kansas to serve as the Deputy Commandant of the U . S . Army Command and General Staff College . In August 1998 General Inge was selected as Commanding General of United States Army , Japan / 9th Theater Support Command . He served in this position until June 2000 , when he was appointed Deputy , The Inspector General , Office of the Secretary of the Army , in Washington , D . C . In October 2001 , General Inge became commander of U . S . First Army , Fort Gillem , Georgia . In June 2004 he was confirmed as Deputy Commander , United States Northern Command , and Vice Commander , U . S . Element , North American Aerospace Defense Command . Inge retired from active duty after 38 years of service in 2007 . Awards and decorations . General Inge ’ s decorations and badges include the Distinguished Service Medal ; the Defense Superior Service Medal ; the Legion of Merit ( with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters ) ; the Meritorious Service Medal ( with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters ) ; the Army Commendation Medal ( with Oak Leaf Cluster ) ; the Army Achievement Medal ( with Oak Leaf Cluster ) ; the Parachutist Badge ; the Special Forces Tab ; the Ranger Tab ; the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge ; and the Army Staff Identification Badge .