Governor Shapiro thanks Major General Schindler for his decades-long service to our Commonwealth, names Brigadier General John R. Pippy to serve as Pennsylvania’s Acting Adjutant General and will nominate him for full confirmation in the Senate
A western Pennsylvania native, Brigadier General Pippy – a West Point graduate – will bring decades of leadership experience in the National Guard to DMVA
Harrisburg, PA — Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that he is naming Brigadier General John R. Pippy to serve as Pennsylvania’s acting Adjutant General and head of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The Governor will be nominating Brigadier General Pippy for a full confirmation in the Senate. This comes after Major General Mark Schindler announced his retirement last week after nearly four decades of service with the Pennsylvania National Guard (PANG).
Governor Shapiro is committed to supporting the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs – and this nomination is critical to ensuring the Administration is able to continue serving Pennsylvania servicemembers, veterans, and their families effectively.
“I am proud today to announce that I am naming Brigadier General Pippy to serve as acting Adjutant General and lead our Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,” said Governor Shapiro. “Ensuring the PA National Guard is able to effectively serve our communities, our Commonwealth, and our country and that the DMVA is able to deliver for Pennsylvania servicemembers, veterans, and their families is critically important to my Administration. Brigadier General Pippy has the experience and readiness to lead on day one – and I look forward to working together with him and the men and women of the PA National Guard and the DMVA to continue delivering for all Pennsylvanians.”
“I would like to sincerely thank Governor Shapiro for his unwavering support of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. I am deeply grateful to the dedicated soldiers and airmen of the Pennsylvania National Guard, who tirelessly protect and defend the people of Pennsylvania and our nation. To the entire DMVA team, thank you for your hard work and devoted service to our service members, veterans, and youth,” said Major General Mark Schindler. “It is with great pleasure that I congratulate BG John Pippy on his appointment to be Adjutant General of Pennsylvania. John is tremendous leader, he will be a fierce advocate for the DMVA, and I know the department will thrive under his leadership.”
«I am humbled and truly honored by the trust and confidence Governor Shapiro has shown in me with this appointment to be the 55th Adjutant General of Pennsylvania,” said Brigadier General John R. Pippy. “Serving with the members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is a privilege that I hold with the utmost respect. I look forward to working with our service members, families, veterans, and DMVA employees to ensure that we are Always Ready and Always There when our Commonwealth or Country needs us.”
“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Major General Mark Schindler for his years of dedicated service. His leadership, mentorship, and commitment to the Pennsylvania National Guard have been exemplary – I wish Major General Schindler and Colette all the best in their well-deserved retirement,” said BG Pippy.
Currently, Brigadier General John Pippy serves as Director, Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Pennsylvania National Guard. He leads the integration of strategic and joint staff issues for over 13,000 Soldiers and 4,100 Airmen of the Pennsylvania National Guard. He leads the administration, coordination, planning, development, and execution of all Joint Staff programs that prepare the state for contingency operations in either a federal or state emergency to include man-made or natural disasters, and federal mobilizations.
BG Pippy previously served the Land Component Commander for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (Fort Indiantown Gap, PA). He concurrently served in a dual hat role as the Deputy Chief of Engineers for National Guard Affairs at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Headquarters (Washington, D.C).
Prior to that, BG Pippy served as the commander of the 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Scranton, PA) and Commander of FEMA Region 3 Homeland Response Force. His previous key assignments included Construction Facilities Maintenance Officer for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, Commander of the 876th Brigade Engineer Battalion (Johnstown, PA), Operations Officer for the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 28th ID (Washington, PA), and a deployment to the Middle East from September 2016 to July 2017 as the Engineer Director and Headquarters Battalion Commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve.
BG Pippy graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas where he served as a Sapper Platoon Leader, A&O Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer within the 20th EN Battalion (MECH).
After serving on active duty, BG Pippy joined the Army Reserve and was assigned as the Detachment Commander of the 316th EN DET (Prime Power). In March of 2003, he deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Commander of the 332nd EN CO (Kittanning, PA).
BG Pippy transferred to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2004 and was assigned to the JFHQ. While there, he held the positions of Facility Management Officer, Facility Engineer, and Design Management Branch Chief. Later, he was assigned to HQ, 28th ID as the G3 Engineer Operations Officer and then the 28th ID Division Engineer. BG Pippy joined the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 28th Infantry Division in 2011 as the Brigade Operations officer and was later selected for Command of the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in 2014.
BG Pippy is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Engineer Captains Career Course, the United States Army Command General Staff Officer Course, the U.S. Army War College, and the Senior Leader Course at the Baltic Defense College. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Irish American University, a National Security Management Executive Education Certificate from Syracuse University Maxwell School, and the General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.
BG Pippy’s awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Engineer Regiment’s Bronze Order of the De Fleury Medal.
BG Pippy is a resident of Moon Township, Pennsylvania with his wife, Kathy. They have one adult daughter, Katelyn.
