Major General Joel "JB" Vowell received his commission as an Infantry officer from the University of Alabama in 1991. During his career, he has been stationed in Europe, the Pacific, the Middle East, and many posts across the United States.
MG Vowell served three combat tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, including both surge campaigns. He commanded the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment (“No Slack”) and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team ("Rakkasans") of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
MG Vowell was a War College Fellow at Stanford University and later was the Army Chief of Staff's Senior Fellow to the Brookings Institution. He has served as Executive Officer to the Secretary of the Army, Deputy Commanding General (Operations) for the 25th Infantry Division, as well as the Deputy Director for Strategy Planning and Policy (J5) for United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). His last assignment was as Commander, U.S. Army Japan/I Corps (FWD).
MG Vowell is a Category 2 USA Cycling Road Racer and a member of the CoreTechs Masters Team, Portola Valley, California. He was the 2018 Hawaii State Masters Champion.
He is married and is the proud father of two great sons.