Brigadier General Mark G. Kappelmann

Director of the Joint Staff
Johnston, IA

Brigadier General Mark G. Kappelmann is a native of Decorah, Iowa, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation Branch in 1995. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering. Brigadier General Kappelmann also holds master’s degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from both the Naval War College and the Army War College. He also served as the Army’s Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

His military education includes: the Army War College, the College of Naval Command and Staff, the Combined Armed Services Staff School, Aviation Officer Advanced and Basic Courses, and the U.S. Army Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Brigadier General Kappelmann has commanded the following units: Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR(A)); D Company (AVIM), 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR(A); and the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion (SOATB), all of which were located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He also commanded 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment (GSAB) in Wiesbaden, Germany; the Special Mission Wing (SMW) Special Operations Advisory Group (SOAG) in Kabul, Afghanistan; and The Army Aviation Brigade, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Other significant assignments include duties as the G-3 (Air) for the U.S. National Support Element in Taszar, Hungary; the Operations Officer for E Company, 160th SOAR (A) in Daegu, Republic of Korea; the Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR(A); Secretary of the General Staff for United States Army Europe (USAREUR); and Senior Army Advisor to the Iowa Army National Guard.

Brigadier General Kappelmann is married to Kelly, and they have two sons—Glenn and Alex.