Major General Jami C. Shawley is currently serving as the Joint Staff J5 Staff Director for Strategic Initiatives.
Major General Shawley was commissioned into Aviation through the United States Military Academy in 1992. She began her career flying AH-1 helicopters in the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea and served at company, battalion and brigade level staff positions in the 2d Infantry Division and the 3d Infantry Division in Savannah, Georgia. She commanded a company in the 224th Military Intelligence (Aerial Exploitation) Battalion, conducting fixed wing ISR missions.
Major General Shawley transitioned to the Army Reserve and re-entered active duty as an Active Guard Reserve officer in 2006. She served in the 244th Aviation Brigade, at Human Resources Command, on staff in Headquarters, Department of the Army, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and commanded the 2-228th Aviation Regiment as it supported simultaneous split rotations in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan and provided sustained airlift support to Joint Inter-Agency Task Force South throughout the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. Major General Shawley served as the military advisor to the Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and as a senior crisis operations and policy officer for the bureau then served as the Assistant Deputy Director in the Joint Staff Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate (J5)-Africa. As a general officer, she has commanded the Army Reserve Aviation Command, the 81st Readiness Division and the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa in Djibouti, Africa.
Major General Shawley completed the Army Aviation Basic Course and flight school, the Army Engineer Advanced Course, National War College, and numerous other schools appropriate to her experience and time in service. She has two master’s degrees and holds a number of awards and badges to include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Senior Aviator Badge.