Webster resident honored for leadership in New York Army National Guard

LATHAM, NY (12/04/2023) — The New York Army National Guard's 53rd Troop Command welcomed back a commander during a unit change of command ceremony held Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, at the National Guard state headquarters.

Brig. Gen. Jack James, who commanded the 53rd Troop Command from 2019 to 2021, took over from Brig. Gen. Joseph Biehler, who replaced James in command in 2021. James had been serving as a deputy division commander for the 42nd Infantry Division.

Biehler, a Webster, New York resident, has been selected to take command of the 42nd Infantry Division in the coming year.

Biehler, a veteran of deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, said all credit for his success as a commander of the 53rd belong to the Soldiers of the unit.

"Truth be told, this was an excellent unit when I took command two years ago, and it remains an excellent unit today," Biehler said. "The leaders and Soldiers made this job incredibly easy for me."

James is an Army aviator who led the command from 2019-2021 and prior to that, led the 42nd Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.

According to Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general for New York, who presided over the ceremony, James accepted the assignment without hesitation.

"I'm sure you never expected to be coming back to command the 53rd again," Shields said to James. "When faced with finding a replacement for Biehler as the commanding general, only one name came to mind - Jack James."

"I can't thank you enough for accepting command of the 53rd for a second time so readily, and I know your leadership will ensure success of the 53rd and the New York Army National Guard," Shields said.

James said that he was anxious to get to work alongside the Soldiers of the 53rd Troop Command again.

"I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve our New York National Guard and our fellow Soldiers in this position of responsibility," James said.

"What an incredible honor - to command American Soldiers. I will not let you down," James added.

Biehler is expected to take command of the 42nd Infantry Division headquarters in the new year as the unit prepares for mobilization and deployment in 2025 to the Middle East.

"Your experience makes you the ideal person for the role as the next division commander," Shields said to Biehler. "You are the right leader for this upcoming deployment. It is a big job ahead, but we know that you're up to it."

Biehler, a Finance Director for L3 Harris Technologies in Rochester in his civilian career, told the formation of Soldiers that his leadership role with the unit was meaningful to him.

"It has been an honor to lead the 53rd Troop Command," Biehler said. "There is no comparison in the civilian world than being a commander in an Army unit," he said.

Biehler is a resident of Webster, near Rochester, and took command of the 53rd in 2021.

He is a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was part of the division headquarters deployment to Kuwait in 2020, where the Soldiers served as the headquarters for Operation Spartan Shield, the 10,000 Soldier U.S. Army element in the Middle East.

Biehler has served in the Army National Guard since May of 1987 when he was commissioned as an infantry officer. He served as a rifle platoon leader, mortar platoon leader, and support platoon leader, company executive officer and twice as a rifle company commander. He has served in battalion and brigade staff positions as well.

He also deployed to Iraq in 2004 while serving as the operations officer of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry and then as the battalion's commander during a 2012 deployment to Afghanistan.

Biehler also commanded the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Syracuse but has elements across the state.

He served as the assistant division commander for maneuver of the 42nd Infantry Division from 2017 to 2021.

Biehler is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Staff Service School, Intermediate Level Education, the Army War College, Airborne School, Air Assault School, and Ranger School.

He holds a bachelor's degree in management and a bachelor's degree in accounting from St. John Fisher College. He also holds a master's degree in strategic studies from the Army War College.

Biehler's awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal National Defense Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, the NATO Medal, the Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Biehler was born in Rochester, New York and graduated from McQuaid Jesuit High School in 1983.

In civilian life he works as a Finance Director for L3 Harris Technologies in Rochester.

He and his wife Sonya have two adult sons.

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