Jeffrey W. Talley (born September 27, 1959) is an American businessman, scholar, and retired three-star general whose concurrent military and civilian careers encompass a blend of corporate, academic, and government leadership. His unique military and civilian contributions were recognized by the
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
on June 28, 2016, with ''Tribute to Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Talley'', as reflected in the
congressional record
The ''Congressional Record'' is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Publishing Office and issued when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record Inde ...
.
General Talley's military career included duty in the
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
,
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
,
Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
, and
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
. His military service culminated with three consecutive
commanding general
The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...
assignments including the
926th Engineer Brigade and Baghdad Provincial Engineer,
4th Infantry Division,
Multi-National Division-Baghdad, during the
Surge
Surge means a sudden transient rush or flood, and may refer to:
Science
* Storm surge, the onshore gush of water associated with a low-pressure weather system
* Surge (glacier), a short-lived event where a glacier can move up to velocities 100 ...
and fight for
Sadr City
Sadr City ( ar, مدينة الصدر, translit=Madīnat aṣ-Ṣadr), formerly known as Al-Thawra ( ar, الثورة, aṯ-Ṯawra) and Saddam City ( ar, مدينة صدام, Madīnat Ṣaddām), is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. ...
in 2008; the
84th Training Command, where he trained units preparing for deployment from 2009 to 2012; and in 2012, he was appointed by the President to a four-year term as the 32nd
Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General of the
U.S. Army Reserve Command
United States Army Reserve Command (USARC) commands all United States Army Reserve units and is responsible for overseeing unit staffing, training, management and deployment. Approximately 205,000 Army Reserve soldiers are assigned to USARC. Th ...
, an organization of over 215,000 Soldiers and civilians, 134 general officers and senior executives, with an annual operating budget of approximately $9B, and activities in over 30 countries, including all states and territories. He has received numerous medals and awards, including two
Army Distinguished Medals and three
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
s. He retired from the military in 2016 and was recognized by the Association of the U.S. Army with the MG James Earl Rudder Medal for the advancement of the goal of a seamless and component integrated Army.
General Talley's civilian career consists of a portfolio of business, academic, and government experiences. Business positions held are Founder/President & CEO of The P3i Group, Vice President & Global Fellow at
IBM, Co-Founder/President & CEO of Environmental Technology Solutions, and Associate at Malcolm Pirnie. Academic positions held are Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Department Chair, Endowed Chair, Institute Director, Adjunct Professor, Advanced Leadership Fellow, Scholar-in-Residence, and Professor of the Practice, with appointments at
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin founded the school in 1842. The main campu ...
,
Southern Methodist University
, mottoeng = "The truth will make you free"
, established =
, type = Private research university
, accreditation = SACS
, academic_affiliations =
, religious_affiliation = United Methodist Church
, president = R. Gerald Turner
, prov ...
,
The Johns Hopkins University,
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
, and
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
. Government positions held are Research Engineer and Biotechnology Research Team Leader, Environmental Engineer, and Engineering Technician with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
, colors =
, anniversaries = 16 June (Organization Day)
, battles =
, battles_label = Wars
, website =
, commander1 = ...
. He serves on multiple for-profit and not-for-profit Board of Directors.
General Talley holds a
Ph.D.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...
in engineering from
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...
, an
Executive M.B.A. from
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
, an
M.S.E. from The Johns Hopkins University, an
M.L.A. from
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...
, an
M.S.S. from
U.S. Army War College
The United States Army War College (USAWC) is a U.S. Army educational institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500-acre (2 km2) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks. It provides graduate-level instruction to senior military officer ...
, an
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
from
Assumption College, and an
B.S.
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...
from
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...
. He is a registered
Professional Engineer
Regulation and licensure in engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage life, public welfare, safety, well-being, then environment and other interests of the general public and to define the licensure process thro ...
(P.E.), a
Board-Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) in Sustainability, and a
Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer (D.WRE).
Early life and education
Talley was born in
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...
, the son of Gloria E. (Genter) and Donald E. Talley. He graduated from
Yorktown High School in
Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county is ...
in 1977. After spending his freshman year of college at
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University (Old Dominion or ODU) is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia. It was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary and is now one of the largest universities in Virginia with ...
, he transferred to
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...
(LSU). While at LSU, he was a Cadet of the
Ole War Skule and an
Army ROTC
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AROTC) is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program which is a group of college and university-based offic ...
Scholarship recipient. As a cadet, he graduated from the
U.S. Army Airborne School and was Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army
Air Assault School. His senior year, he was the Commander of
Pershing Rifles
The National Society of Pershing Rifles is a military-oriented honor society for college-level students founded in 1894 as a drill unit at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. It is the oldest continuously operating US college organization dedi ...
Company D-16 and an Officer in the
Scabbard and Blade
Scabbard and Blade (S&B) is a college military honor society founded at the University of Wisconsin in 1904. Although membership is open to Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and midshipmen of all military services, the society is mod ...
. He graduated from LSU in 1981 with an
B.S.
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...
in Forestry (
Natural Resource Management
Natural resource management (NRM) is the management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations ( stewardship) ...
) and was a
Distinguished Military Graduate.
While serving on active duty in the military, Talley completed an
M.A
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
. in
Religious Studies from Assumption College in 1985, and an M.L.A. (
History & Philosophy) from Washington University in St. Louis in 1988. Upon leaving the
Regular Army
A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregulars, irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenary, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the ...
in 1992, he enrolled at The Johns Hopkins University where he received his M.S.E. in
Environmental Engineering & Science in 1995. In 2000, he earned his Ph.D. in
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewage ...
from Carnegie Mellon University. His dissertation research won the
U.S. Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secur ...
’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development (SERDP)
project of the year award.
In 2001, Talley was selected as an Army reservist to attend the U.S. Army War College Distance Education Program. Through a series of distance learning and resident sessions, he completed his studies in 2003 and was awarded an M.S.S. (Military & Strategic Leadership). In 2010, he began an executive graduate program in global business at the University of Oxford. Over the next 22 months he would commute to and from
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, graduating from
Keble College
Keble College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to th ...
in 2011 with an Executive MBA. While at
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, he would also create a series of tech start-ups with one of his classmates, winning the
Saïd Business School
Saïd Business School (Oxford Saïd or SBS) is the business school of the University of Oxford. The School is a provider of management education and is consistently ranked as one of the world's top business schools.
Oxford School of Management ...
Venture Fund Competition for best new start-up.
He married his wife Linda in 1981. They have three sons and a daughter - Christopher, Joshua, Matthew, and Ashley.
Military career
''The Regular Army (1981-1992)''
Upon graduation from
LSU
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 near ...
in December 1981, Talley received a
Regular Army
A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregulars, irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenary, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the ...
commission as a
second lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After completing the
Engineer Officer Basic Course
The Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course (EBOLC), formerly known as the Engineer Officer Basic Course (EOBC), is a training course for new commissioned officers selected for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It is run at the U.S. Army En ...
at
Ft. Belvoir,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, and the
U.S. Army Ranger School at
Ft. Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employee ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, he reported to his first permanent duty assignment at
Ft. Devens,
. He was assigned to the
39th Engineer Battalion where he served as 1st
Platoon Leader
{{unreferenced, date=February 2013
A platoon leader (NATO) or platoon commander (more common in Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth militaries and the United States Marine Corps, US Marine Corps) is the officer in charge of a platoon. This pers ...
, Alpha Company, and later as
Battalion Adjutant (S-1). In August 1985, he was promoted to
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
en route to the
St. Louis District
ST, St, or St. may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Stanza, in poetry
* Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band
* Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise
* Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...
, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he worked in Construction Division on
Lock & Dam 26 (Replacement), the largest civil works project in the U.S. at that time. He would later serve in both Engineering and Planning Divisions.
Following his assignment in
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
, Talley returned to Ft. Belvoir for the
Engineer Officer Advance Course. Upon graduation, he volunteered to go to the Republic of Korea for an unaccompanied assignment with the
44th Engineer Battalion,
Eight U.S. Army. After a short stint as Assistant Battalion Operations Officer (Assistant S-3) at Camp Mercer (vicinity
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
), he took command of Bravo Company and
Camp Nimble Camp Nimble was a US military facility located in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, across the Chuncheon River from Camp Casey. Closed and returned in July 2006, it was home to the 2nd Infantry Division's A and B Companies of the 702n ...
(
Dongducheon
Dongducheon () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
The city, to the north of Seoul, is strategically important for the defense of the Korean capital. The main camps of the United States Second Infantry Division are in the city, and the d ...
), in support of
2nd Infantry Division and its demilitarized zone (
DMZ
A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or bounda ...
) mission. After two years in Korea, he returned to the U.S. for Combined Arms Service Staff (CAS3) School at
Ft. Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., and the oldest perman ...
,
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
.
Upon graduation from CAS3, Talley was assigned to the
Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked in the Hazardous Toxic Radiological Waste Branch of Engineering Division. There he supported the design and remediation of contaminated sites around the country, including the
Times Beach Superfund project in
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
, considered by many to be the most toxic site in America. In April 1992, Talley resigned his Regular Army commission, leaving active duty as a senior Captain, and transferring to the
U.S. Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces.
Since July 20 ...
.
''The Army Reserve (1992-2012)''
Talley's first assignment in the Army Reserve was Assistant Operations Officer (Assistant S-3),
315th Engineer Group,
New Cumberland Army Depot The New Cumberland Defense Depot is a United States Department of Defense military base located a short distance south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Fairview Township, York County, Pennsylvania. It is adjacent to the Capital City Airport and a ...
,
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
New Cumberland is a borough in easternmost Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. New Cumberland was incorporated on March 21, 1831. The population was 7,277 at the 2010 census. The borough is noted for its historic downtown which includes ...
. In December 1993, he was promoted to
major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
and served as the Group's Operations Officer (S-3). Subsequently, he was assigned to the 365th Engineer Battalion in
Schuylkill Haven,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
as the Battalion Operations Officer (S-3). While at the 365th, he also graduated from the
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...
.
Talley relocated in April 1996 to
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a historic city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat, and the population at the 2010 census was 23,856.
Located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana, Vic ...
to join the
412th Engineer Command. While at the 412th, he served as the Commanding General's personal Plans Officer, and later as
Commandant
Commandant ( or ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ran ...
. After two years in command, he returned to the 365th to be the Battalion
Executive Officer
An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...
, but only to return to the 412th a year later to serve as its
Secretary General Staff. Selected early for
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...
command, he returned to the 365th in February 1999. He was promoted to
lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
in April 2000.
Upon completion of battalion command in February 2002, he became the Deputy Operations Officer (Deputy G-3) at the
416th Engineer Command in
Darien,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
. In December 2002, Talley was called to
active duty
Active duty, in contrast to reserve duty, is a full-time occupation as part of a military force. In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, the equivalent term is active service.
India
The Indian Armed Forces are considered to be one ...
and in February 2003 he
mobilized
Mobilization is the act of assembling and readying military troops and supplies for war. The word ''mobilization'' was first used in a military context in the 1850s to describe the preparation of the Prussian Army. Mobilization theories and ...
and
deployed in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
and
Operation Iraq Freedom. While in theater, he was the
Chief of Operations for the 416th which was part of the
Coalition Joint Forces Land Component Command. There he was responsible for the planning and execution of hundreds of combat and construction missions throughout Kuwait and Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star (1st award).
Upon graduation from the U.S. Army War College in 2003, Talley served in the
Pentagon
In geometry, a pentagon (from the Greek πέντε ''pente'' meaning ''five'' and γωνία ''gonia'' meaning ''angle'') is any five-sided polygon or 5-gon. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°.
A pentagon may be simpl ...
as a
Strategic Planner in the Deputy Directorate for the
War on Terrorism
The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant I ...
, Strategic Plans & Policy Directorate (J-5),
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...
. Promoted to
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
in February 2005, he was reassigned to command the
926th Engineer Group in
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...
. The 926th was the largest engineer
group
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
in the Total Army with over 7,000 Soldiers scattered across multiple states. As part of an Army force structure change, the group was reorganized and re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
926th Engineer Brigade. At that time, reserve
brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.
Br ...
s were
one-star commands. Talley was selected to be its first
Commanding General
The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...
and promoted to
brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
in August 2007.
In January 2008, Talley returned to active duty in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
as
Commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
, 926th Engineer Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad and the Baghdad Provincial Engineer. While in Iraq, he led an organization consisting of thousands of engineers in the rebuilding of Baghdad to include restoring essential services and eliminating threats from
improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached to a detonating mechan ...
s. He is credited with developing a military and policy strategy widely referred to as “Engineering the Peace” that aimed to reduce violence in destabilized communities by rapidly rebuilding infrastructure, schools and hospitals in the militia stronghold of
Sadr City
Sadr City ( ar, مدينة الصدر, translit=Madīnat aṣ-Ṣadr), formerly known as Al-Thawra ( ar, الثورة, aṯ-Ṯawra) and Saddam City ( ar, مدينة صدام, Madīnat Ṣaddām), is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. ...
and across Baghdad. He was awarded two Bronze Stars (2nd & 3rd award) - one for his efforts in rebuilding Baghdad, and the other for meritorious achievement in combat during the January 2009 planning and execution of security operations for the Baghdad provincial elections.
Upon return from Iraq, Talley assumed command of the 84th Training Command at
Ft. Knox,
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
in June 2009 and was promoted to
major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
. At the 84th, he was responsible for training and assessing the readiness of units through
Combat Training Center-like exercises in preparation for their upcoming combat deployments. He relinquished command in April 2012 and was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal (1st award). He also served on the
Reserve Forces Policy Board
The Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB) is a federal advisory committee established by statute within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Its purpose is to "serve as an independent adviser to the Secretary of Defense to provide advice and recomm ...
within the
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is a headquarters-level staff of the United States Department of Defense. It is the principal civilian staff element of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out aut ...
from 2009 to 2012.
''Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command (2012-2016)''
President Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...
nominated Talley to be the Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command on March 20, 2012. The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on May 3, 2012. Talley was appointed to the rank of
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
in the Regular Army on June 9, 2012, at a ceremony at
Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Immediately after his appointment, he assumed command of the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) and was sworn in as the 32nd Chief of Army Reserve.
General Raymond T. Odierno, 38th
Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, officiated the appointment, the change of command, and the swearing-in ceremonies.
As the Chief of the Army Reserve, Talley was the principal staff adviser to the
Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army on all
Army Reserve Affairs. He developed Army Reserve budgets, training programs and policy decisions; managed the Army Reserve troop program units, individual mobilization augmentees, and the active guard/reserve program; and served as the appropriation director of all Army Reserve funds. As the Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Talley commanded all Army Reserve troops in the
Continental U.S. and had administrative control over the Army Reserve troops overseas, with a total end strength of 205,000 Soldiers and over 12,000 civilians.
During Talley's tenure, the Army Reserve mobilized over 62,000 Soldiers to over 30 countries, including continued support to operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
; all while overcoming unprecedented challenges including the first reduction to the Reserve force since the end of the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, severe budget cuts known as sequestration and a government shutdown. To improve the Army Reserve's support to the Total Force, he developed the “Plan, Prepare and Provide” readiness model that placed Army Reserve Engagement Cells and Teams into every
Army Service Component Command
Army Service Component Commands (ASCCs) are U.S. Army commands responsible for recommendations to the Joint Force Commander on the allocation and employment of U.S. Army forces within a combatant command or further assigned to subordinate unified c ...
and
Combatant Command
A unified combatant command (CCMD), also referred to as a combatant command, is a joint command (military formation), military command of the United States Department of Defense that is composed of units from two or more service branches of the ...
around the world. He also created the Reserve's
Private Public Partnership program, which built partnerships with civilian companies and organizations and helps Soldiers and their families find employment or advance their civilian careers.
Talley relinquished command of the Army Reserve to
General Robert B. "Abe" Abrams, the commanding general of
U.S. Army Forces Command
United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) is the largest United States Army command. It provides expeditionary, regionally engaged, campaign-capable land forces to combatant commanders. Headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, FORSCOM con ...
, on June 1, 2016, at
Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Concurrently, he ended his statutory appointment as the Chief of Army Reserve.
''Retirement from the U.S. Army''
Talley retired from the U.S. Army on June 30, 2016 at the rank of Lieutenant General, having served almost 35 years in active and reserve assignments. Talley and his wife Linda were honored at a Special Retirement Review at Conmy Hall at
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. The ceremony was conducted by the
3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) and hosted by
General Mark A. Milley, 39th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Talley was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal (2nd award).
''Continued recognition''
O
April 28, 2023, Mr. Talley was awarded the Gold de Fleury Medal is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment & the Corps of Engineers.
Dates of rank
Medals and ribbons
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Talley, Jeffrey W.
1959 births
Living people
Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering alumni
Louisiana State University alumni
Southern Methodist University faculty
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
United States Army generals
United States Army reservists
United States Army War College alumni
Yorktown High School (Virginia) alumni
Washington University in St. Louis alumni
Assumption University (Worcester) alumni
Johns Hopkins University alumni