Colonel Jennifer (Jenn) Walkawicz, a native of The Plains, Virginia, graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in 1995 as a Distinguished Military Graduate receiving her commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Adjutant General (AG) Corps. She assumed command of the 733rd Mission Support Group at Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) on 29 June 2018, where she serves in the Garrison Commander role. She came to JBLE from the Pentagon, where she served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Army from 2016-2018.
Colonel Walkawicz commanded the 1st Special Troops Battalion (STB), 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade at Fort Riley, KS from 2013-2015. During her command tenure, the STB deployed Soldiers to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Honduras, while simultaneously preparing a detachment for deployment to Liberia in support of the fight against Ebola. She served as the Deputy J-5 for the Joint Planning Support Element, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command in Norfolk, VA from 2011-2013. In that capacity she served as Lead Planner and Team Lead for three operational deployments – two to the U.S. Africa Command Theater of Operations (supporting activities in Libya and Mali) and one in support of U.S. Central Command.
Colonel Walkawicz' other notable field grade assignments included serving as the Executive Officer, for the Directorate of Military Personnel Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G‐1, Pentagon, from 2009- 2011; the Battalion Executive Officer for the 120th Adjutant General (Reception) Battalion, Fort Jackson, SC, from 2007-2008; and as the Executive Officer, Deputy Commanding General (Programs), Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, from 2006-2007.
Then-Captain Walkawicz was in command of Company A, 3‐13th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, SC on September 11, 2001. She had previously served twice in Korea, as the Executive Officer for the Eighth United States Army G-1 from 1999-2000, and as the Executive Officer / Platoon Leader for 1st Replacement Company from 1995-1996. Between assignments to Korea, she served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Lansing Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), Lansing, MI, from 1996-1999. In addition to company command, Colonel Walkawicz served in multiple Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) positions while stationed at Fort Jackson, SC, from 2000-2006, including: Secretary General Staff (SGS), US Army Training Center & Fort Jackson; Battalion Operations Officer/S‐3, 369th AG Battalion; and Instructor, AG Captains’ Career Course.
Colonel Walkawicz’ military schools include the U.S. Army War College; Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS); United Kingdom Joint Operations Planning Course; Defense Support of Civil Authorities Phases I & II; Joint Humanitarian Operations Course; and the AG Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. Her civilian education includes a Master’s Degree of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College; a M.S. in Joint Campaign Planning & Strategy from the National Defense University; a M.A. in Human Resource Management from Webster University; and a B.A. in Criminology from IUP.
Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters and Army Staff Badge. Her campaign and service medals include: National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, NATO Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 3.
Colonel Walkawicz is married to Timothy Walkawicz, a native of Warrenton, Virginia. They currently have one dog, Makki (18).