[VT Fort Indiantown Gap, PA] February 26, 2025 – Maj. Gen. John R. Pippy was officially sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 55th adjutant general in a prestigious ceremony at Fort Indiantown Gap. Governor Josh Shapiro administered the oath of office, solidifying Pippy’s leadership of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) and his command of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Maj. Gen. Pippy was confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate on February 4, 2025, following his tenure as acting adjutant general since September 30, 2024. As the leader of the DMVA, he now oversees one of the largest National Guard forces in the nation, with nearly 18,000 Army and Air National Guard members under his command.
Governor Shapiro underscored the importance of Pippy’s role in ensuring the readiness of the Pennsylvania National Guard and the DMVA’s support for service members and veterans. “Major General Pippy has the experience and readiness to lead,” Shapiro stated. “I look forward to working with him and the men and women of the PA National Guard and the DMVA to continue delivering for all Pennsylvanians.”
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Pippy expressed his gratitude and commitment to his new responsibilities. “The first priority is the readiness of the Pennsylvania National Guard to respond to the needs of the Commonwealth and country when called upon,” he stated. “The second is to fulfill our nation’s solemn obligation to take care of our veterans and their families.”
The ceremony was presided over by Army Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Jessica L. Wright, former U.S. Department of Defense undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness and former adjutant general of Pennsylvania. Wright played a pivotal role in promoting Pippy to the rank of major general.
Born in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, on December 12, 1970, Pippy has a diverse background. His father served in the U.S. Air Force, and his mother is from Thailand. He immigrated to the United States at the age of one and later graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering. Pippy served on active duty with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, before transitioning to the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was called back to active duty during the Iraq War from 2003 to 2004.
Pippy also had a successful political career, serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003 and the Pennsylvania State Senate from 2003 to 2012. During his tenure, he overcame multiple challenges, including a 2003 legal dispute regarding his military service and candidacy, which was resolved in his favor.
Following his resignation from the state senate in 2012, Pippy served as President of the Pennsylvania Coal Association and later earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the Army War College in 2017. As the new adjutant general, he now oversees not only military operations but also programs supporting Pennsylvania’s nearly 700,000 veterans, one of the largest veteran populations in the nation.
With his extensive military and legislative experience, Maj. Gen. John R. Pippy is set to have a profound impact on Pennsylvania’s military and veterans’ affairs, ensuring the state’s National Guard remains strong and its veterans receive the support they deserve.
