Brigadier General Reginald G. A. Neal

Brigadier General Reginald G. A. Neal of Ludowici, Georgia graduated from the Academy of Richmond County in 1987.  After high school, he graduated from Georgia Military College, where he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in 1989. Neal would subsequently obtain a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and two Master’s degrees from The Citadel and the U.S. Army War College. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.

 

While serving as a traditional National Guard officer, Neal taught high school in Augusta (ARC), Statesboro, and Charleston, S.C.  He also served as an assistant principal at Middleton High School in Charleston, SC.

 

While attending ARC, General Neal was a member of the JROTC rifle team, honor guard, color guard, and drill team. He earned the rank of cadet Lieutenant Colonel and served as the executive officer for the JROTC Cadet Battalion before graduating in 1987. Neal was also a member of the Future   Business Leaders of America and was elected as one of the co-presidents of his senior class.

 

Brigadier General Neal has served in multiple key assignments during his military career. During the initial invasion into Iraq and ground combat operations in Iraq, Neal served in the 3rd Infantry Division as an operations officer. He assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment (Chatham Artillery) in 2007.  In 2009, while the battalion was deployed to Afghanistan, General Neal served as the commander of Joint Task Force Kabul.  Six years later, Lieutenant Colonel Neal assumed command of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), becoming the first Black American to command Georgia’s storied unit. Following brigade command, he was selected to serve as the executive officer to the 28th Chief of the National Guard Bureau -- General Joseph L. Lengyel.

 

Neal served at the Pentagon in Washington, DC until November 2017 and, in January 2018, was promoted to flag officer. General Neal currently serves as the Director of the Georgia National Guard Joint Staff, and the Deputy Commanding General for National Guard Affairs at U. S. Army South, Ft. Sam Houston, TX.

 

 General Neal is a member of several social and civic organizations, including the historic Chatham Artillery, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the Field Artillery Association, Georgia Military College Alumni Board, National Guard Association of Georgia/US, American Legion Post #160, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #5408 (Life member). His awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal (Afghanistan), five Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Basic Parachutist Badge (Airborne), Combat Action Badge, and the Army Staff Badge. Brigadier General Neal was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal by the Secretary of Defense in 2017.