An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN THE NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS | Nov. 13, 2020

Chief of Army Reserve hosts promotion ceremony of Deputy the Inspector General

By Thomas Ruyle

Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the U.S. Army Reserve, hosted a promotion ceremony for U.S. Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Vincent Barker, Deputy the Inspector General, on Nov. 9, 2020, at the Pentagon.

“It is my great honor and pleasure to host this promotion ceremony in honor of Maj. Gen. Vincent Barker, a decorated Soldier and outstanding leader who has distinguished himself in every assignment he has undertaken in his more than three decades of service in the Army Reserve,” said Daniels. “I know he will do a spectacular job in his new assignment with the Office of the Army Inspector General. Thank you, Maj. Gen. Barker for your service to the Army and the nation.”

Lt. Gen. Leslie C. Smith, the Inspector General, also praised Barker’s achievements. “I’m honored to have Vince Barker selected to become the deputy inspector general,” said Smith. “His knowledge of everything in the Reserve components, with his recent deployment experience, will help our agency and Army in areas for years to come. We are also so proud to see the Barker family selected for promotion to MG. Well deserved!”

Barker, of Appleton, Wisconsin, and a native of Crandon, Wisconsin, started a one-year assignment as Deputy of the Inspector General in September 2020 after Maj. Gen. Donald E. ‘Ed’ Jackson retired.

“I am humbled to have the honor to continue to serve, and am thankful to join the great U.S. Army Inspector General Agency team, helping to ensure readiness across all components of our Army,” said Barker. “I would not be here without the great support of my family, mentors and incredible Soldiers I’ve served with over the past 33 years.”

Prior to his current assignment, Barker deployed to Kuwait and Iraq as Director of Sustainment, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. He previously served as deputy commanding general of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command headquartered in New Orleans. Barker commanded the 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), headquartered in Indianapolis, from December 2015 to January 2018. He has also served in numerous command and staff positions.

Barker is a former enlisted United States Marine, having served on active duty from 1981 to 1984. He received his commission through the Army ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1987.

His military education also includes the U.S. Army War College, the Advanced Joint Primary Military Education Course, U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Senior Transportation Officer Qualification Course, the Support Operations Course, and the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.

In 2016, Maj. Gen. Barker retired from his civilian career, having worked more than 23 years as an adjudicator and adjudication supervisor with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Unemployment Insurance Division.

The mission of the U.S. Army Inspector General Agency is to provide impartial, objective, and unbiased advice and oversight to the Army through relevant, timely and thorough inspections, assistance, investigations and training to promote and enable stewardship, accountability, integrity, efficiency, good order and discipline, and enhance total Army readiness.

For Maj. Gen. Barker’s full biography, please visit https://www.army.mil/ig#org-about.

For inquiries relating to the U.S. Army Inspector General Agency, please email Thomas Ruyle at thomas.m.ruyle.civ@mail.mil.