Major General Adjutant General

Major General James A. Benson assumed his duties as The Adjutant General, Delaware on January 30, 2025. As Adjutant General, he is responsible for the mission readiness of all Delaware National Guard units, to include over 1500 Soldiers and 1100 Airmen for both federal and state missions. 

BG Benson previously served as the Assistant Adjutant General Army, Delaware National Guard from June 2023 to January 2025, and as the Director of the Joint Staff, Delaware National Guard from January 2021 to June 2023. BG Benson commissioned in 1991, through the Delaware National Guard Officer Candidate School. He has commanded the 259th (Tropo) Signal Company, 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, and the 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. BG Benson has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.  

BG Benson is a graduate of the University of Delaware, bachelor’s degree in economics, Wilmington University, Master of Business Administration and the Army War College, Master of Strategic Studies. In his civilian capacity, BG Benson is an Emergency Management Consultant with the United States Department of Agriculture.  

 

 

Commissioning Source:  

OCS 

 

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES:  

1990, University of Delaware, Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Newark, Delaware 

1998, Wilmington University, Master of Business Administration, New Castle, Delaware 

2015, Army War College, Master of Strategic Studies, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 

 

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED:   

1993, Signal Officer Basic Course, In – Residence, Augusta, Georgia 

2001, Signal Officer Advanced Course, Reserve Component, Augusta, Georgia 

2002, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Reserve Component, Edgemont, Pennsylvania 

2008, Command and General Staff College, In – Residence, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 

2015, Army War College, Strategic Studies, In – Residence, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 

 

FOREIGN LANGUAGES(s):  

None 

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:   

Second Lieutenant 20 June 1992   

First Lieutenant 19 June 1995   

Captain 10 August 2000   

Major 06 March 2006   

Lieutenant Colonel 1 April 2012 

Colonel 1 May 2017  

Brigadier General 03 January 2021 

Major General 03 January 2025 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:  

1. June 1991 – June 1992, Officer Candidate School, Regional Training Institute, Bethany Beach, Delaware  

2. July 1992 – July 1995, Signal Officer, HHD 198th Signal Battalion, Wilmington, Delaware 

3. June 1998 – June 1998, S1, HHD 198th Signal Battalion, Wilmington, Delaware 

4. July 1998 – May 1999, Platoon Leader, 259th Signal Company (Tropo), Harrington, Delaware 

5. June 1999 – June 2000, Operations Officer, 259th Signal Company (Tropo), Harrington, Delaware 

6. July 2000 – July 2002, Commander, 259th Signal Company (Tropo), Harrington, Delaware 

7. August 2002 – January 2003, S4, HHC 280th Signal Battalion, Georgetown, Delaware 

8. February 2003 – June 2006, Operations Officer / Deputy Team Chief NGB J3 Joint Operations Center, Arlington, Virginia 

9. July 2006 – September 2007, Deputy Mayor, 198th Rear Area Operations Center, Baghdad, Iraq 

10. October 2007 – April 2008, S3 Action Officer, HHD 198th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion, Wilmington, Delaware 

11. May 2008 – July 2008, Operations Officer – J4 LNO, NGB J3 Current Operations, Arlington, Virginia 

12. August 2008 – December 2008, Student, Intermediate Level Education, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 

13. January 2009 – February 2010, S3 Action Officer, HHD 198th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion, Wilmington, Delaware 

14. March 2010 – March 2012, Executive Officer, HHD 198th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion, Wilmington, Delaware 

15. April 2012 – April 2013, Battalion Commander, 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Wilmington, Delaware 

16. June 2013 – June 2014, Battalion Commander, 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Kandahar, Afghanistan 

17. July 2014 – June 2016, Brigade S3, 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, Smyrna, Delaware 

18. July 2016 – January 2021, Brigade Commander, 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, Smyrna, Delaware 

19. January 2021 – June 2023, Director Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Delaware, New Castle, Delaware  

20. June 2023 – January 2025, Assistant Adjutant General, Army, Joint Force Headquarters, Delaware, New Castle, Delaware 

21. January 2025 – Present, The Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Delaware, New Castle, Delaware  

 

 

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS: 

January 2021- June 2023, Director Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Delaware National Guard, New Castle, Delaware 

 

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:  

1. July 2006 – September 2007, Deputy Mayor, 198th Rear Area Operations Center, Baghdad, Iraq 

2. June 2013 – June 2014, Battalion Commander, 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Kandahar, Afghanistan 

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:   

Bronze Star (2) 

Meritorious Service Medal 

Army Commendation Medal 

Air Force Commendation Medal 

Army Achievement Medal 

Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (7) 

Global War On Terrorism Service Medal 

National Defense Service Medal 

Humanitarian Service Medal 

Armed Forces Reserve Medal 

Army Service Ribbon 

Army Overseas Service Ribbon (2) 

NATO Medal  

Meritorious Unit Citation (2) 

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign stars 

Armed Forces Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal 

Delaware National Guard DEGNGMYY - 2 

Delaware National Guard DEGMMMLY - 2 

Delaware National Guard DEGACAYY - 2 

Delaware National Guard DEGGMUAY - 1 

Delaware National Guard DEGUSAYY - 1 

Delaware National Guard DEGNDSRY - 2 

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:   

National Guard Association of the United States 

National Guard Association - Delaware 

Signal Corp Regimental Association