The 6,000 Soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard have a new Chief of Staff as Moorestown resident Col. Dennis Devery was selected by Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, on Nov. 1 to fill the position.

      Working from the New Jersey National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, Fort Dix, Devery will be responsible for the daily operations of the New Jersey Army National Guard, the supervision of all fulltime personnel and the management of National Guard facilities throughout the state.

      “My main goal as the Chief of Staff is to ensure that our units are prepared to respond to natural or man-made disasters in New Jersey and ready for deployments overseas,” said Devery.

      Devery has over twenty-seven years of military service, previously served as the Director of Military Support at the New Jersey National Guard Homeland Security Center in Lawrenceville. He has held numerous command and staff assignments which have prepared him for the responsibilities of the Chief of Staff position to include Recruiting Commander, State Public Affairs Officer, Aviation Facility Commander, Supervisory Instructor Pilot, Cavalry Squadron Executive Officer, Aviation Company Commander and Infantry Company Commander.

      “My entire military career has prepared me to excel as the Chief of Staff for the New Jersey National Guard,” added Devery noting that his years of experience will help in facing new challenges. “The Chief of Staff position requires a person with knowledge of the entire National Guard who can synchronize operations to meet any crisis.”

      Devery is a graduate of the Army War College, Command and General Staff College, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Aviation Officer Advance Course and Armor Officer Basic Course. He has a Masters of Science in Management from Thomas Edison State College, a Masters of Strategic Studies from the Army War College and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Rutgers University.

      Devery was born in Washington DC, but grew up primarily in New Jersey. He and his wife Kelly, reside in Moorestown with their two children Connell and Callan.