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Brigadier General John C. Kinton

Director of the Joint Staff
Military

Brigadier General John C. Kinton is the Director of the Joint Staff for the Tennessee National Guard. Colonel John Kinton’s last assignment was as Commander of the 194th Engineer Brigade in Jackson, TN. Colonel Kinton was appointed to this position in August 2022.

Some of his previous key assignments and missions include; Commander, 117th Military Police BN; Commander, JTF Warrior –COVID 19 and Civil unrest response; Commander, BDE Task Force Volunteer for Florida Hurricane Relief;Resolute Castle Lead Planner, Multinational/Multicomponent European Overseas Deployment Training Exercise; BN Executive Officer, 230th EN BN for 9 Engineer and Security Companies in 4 countries in SWA; Theater Engineer Officer, 577th TSC construction in SWA; TN West Region,Recruiting and Retention OIC; Commander, C/230th Engineer BN; Commander of Troops, 230th EN BN in West Virginia Emergency Flood Response; Beyond the Horizon Humanitarian Construction support in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvadore and Dominican Republic; Border security and construction in California and Arizona; and Innovative Readiness Training Infrastructure Support to Indian reservations in California.

COL Kinton was born in Memphis, TN, and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Martin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and the United States Army War College with a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.

His federal and international service awards include the Legion of Merit Medal,Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, Humanitarian Service Medals, Overseas Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, German Armed Forces Proficiency badge and other awards.

His state military service awards include Tennessee War Service Ribbons, Arizona National Guard Community Service Ribbon, West Virginia National Guard Emergency Service Ribbon, the TN Recruiting Ribbon, the Army National Guard Recruiting Badge, 4 Unit Citations, and other awards.

COL Kinton is a member of several organizations including Army War College Foundation, Army Engineer Association, National Guard Association of the United States, National Guard Association of Tennessee, Associate Member of Enlisted Association of the National Guard Tennessee, 194th EN BDE Officer Association and the American Legion.