Brigadier General Justin Osberg was appointed as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Illinois National Guard on 1 February 2024. As the Director of the Joint Staff, he serves as the advisor to the Adjutant General in all joint matters for the over 13,000 soldiers and airmen in the Illinois National Guard, to include all domestic operations, the State Partnership Program, and overseas training exercises.
Prior to assuming this position, BG Osberg served as the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General - Army. He preceded these roles as Platoon Leader, Company B, 133rd Signal Battalion; Battalion Maintenance Officer, HHC, 133rd Signal Battalion; Commander, Company C, 133rd Signal Battalion; S-6, HHC, 133rd Signal Battalion; S-3 Plans Officer, HHC, 108th Special Troops Battalion; S-3, HHC 108th Special Troops Battalion; Logistics Operations Officer, 108th Sustainment Brigade; Executive Officer, 405th Brigade Support Battalion; Deputy Commander, 108th Sustainment Brigade; Commander, 108th Sustainment Brigade, and G7 Information Operations Officer.
BG Osberg joined the Army in 1993 as a CH-47 Medium Helicopter Mechanic with the 106th Aviation Regiment. He attended the Illinois Officer Candidate School and received his commission on 24 August 1997 as a Signal Corps Officer in the Illinois Army National Guard. His military education includes the Signal Officer Basic Course, Signal Officer Advance Course, Combined Arms Exercise Course, Multi-Functional Logistician Course, Quartermaster Captains Career Course, Combat Advisor Course, Sling Load Inspector/Certification Course, Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army War College and Senior Leader Development Seminar.
His overseas deployment assignments include Senior Advisor (14th Division, Iraqi Army), Coalition Army Advisory Training Team (CAATT), Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Shaibah, Iraq; S4, Task Force White Eagle, Polish 6th Airborne Brigade in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, in Ghazni, Afghanistan, and Commander 108th Sustainment Brigade – Advise, Assist and Enable mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Taji, Iraq.
BG Osberg's awards and badges include the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with six Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with one campaign star), Iraq Campaign Medal (with one campaign star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10-year Device, Overseas Service Ribbon (with numeral 2), Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with numeral 2), Polish Army Medal (Bronze), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (With Oak Leaf Cluster), Combat Action Badge, and Aircraft Crewman Badge.
BG Osberg is a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois. In his civilian career, he is a Senior Manager for Ernst & Young, LLP where he is responsible for consulting company executives in the area of change management. He lives in Geneva, Illinois with his wife, Jessica and has three daughters, Chloe, Ava, Juliana, and son, Evan.
As of October 2024