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Grant gets his star
By Sgt. Wayne Woolley, NJDMAVA/PA

James J. Grant, Chief of the Joint Staff, was promoted to Brigadier General in front of an overflow crowd at the Lawrenceville Armory on Aug. 21. It was full of people who had been there for most of the milestones in Grant’s life.

In addition to his wife, Betteanne Grant, his daughter, Kelly Grant, and his mother and stepfather, Martin and Theresa Cramer, three of his high school friends were in attendance, including his best friend, Kevin Mineiri.

Others in attendance included


The newest New Jersey Army Guard general, Brig. Gen. James J. Grant, smiles as Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, left, and his wife, Betteanne Grant, right, pin on his stars during a ceremony on Aug. 21 in the Lawrenceville armory. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.
Grant’s former colleagues from the New Jersey State Police, Joe Klecko, the Hall of Fame defensive end from the New York Jets and 1st Lt. Wil Crombie, an honored Iraq War veteran with whom Grant began a correspondence. Of course, the largest contingent at Grant’s promotion ceremony came from the organizations Grant now helps to lead, the New Jersey National Guard and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, the Adjutant General, called Grant “a leader with strategic vision” who played a key role in some of the most critical events in the National Guard, including the largest deployment of New Jersey National Guard Soldiers since World War II.

“We are blessed to have Jim on our team,” Rieth said.


Air Guard commander pins on second star

Maj. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson, right, receives her two-star general flag from Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, left, as State Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael R. Francis, center, watches during Falca-Dodson's promotion ceremony on June 22. This is a continuation of her string of historic firsts; from first woman general officer in the New Jersey National Guard to first female commander of the New Jersey Air

National Guard to the first woman in the history of the Jersey Guard to earn two stars. Falca-Dodson was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy Adjutant General when she was appointed to that post in 2002. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA

 

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Volume 34 Number 5 Staff / Information
     
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