Joseph McGee

Joseph Patrick McGee (born ) is a United States Army lieutenant general who served as the director for strategy, plans, and policy of the Joint Staff. He also served as the commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell from 2021 to 2023.

Military career A native of Atherton, California, McGee is a 1986 graduate of Saint Francis High School in nearby Mountain View. He began active service in the army in 1989 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1990. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Ranger School, Pathfinder School, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from West Point, a master's degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, and is an alumnus of the army's Senior Fellows program, having served as a National Security Affairs Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University for the 2010–2011 academic year.

McGee served as director of the Army Talent Management Task Force in the office of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff (G-1) from July 2018 to February 2021, as well as deputy commanding general for operations of United States Army Cyber Command from July 2016 to June 2018. He also commanded the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (also known as the Bastogne Brigade) from July 2011 to October 2013.

McGee's staff assignments include Deputy Executive Assistant to the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, and Executive Officer to the 38th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General Raymond Odierno.

He was assigned to succeed Brett Sylvia as vice director for strategy, plans, and policy of the Joint Staff. In March 2024, he was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as director for strategy, plans, and policy of the Joint Staff. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate and he was promoted to lieutenant general on May 2, 2024.

In December 2024, McGee was nominated for another assignment as a lieutenant general. He left his position as director for strategy, plans, and policy of the Joint Staff in October 2025 and his retirement was announced.