Major General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General, appointed Brigadier General Maria Falca-Dodson Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey on March 1, 2002. As the Deputy Adjutant General, Brigadier General Falca-Dodson serves as Vice to The Adjutant General (TAG) of the New Jersey National Guard providing oversight and management to almost 9,000 members of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard, as well as state operations of the Department. Brigadier General Falca-Dodson has direct responsibility for: the Army and Air full time operations, Strength, NJ National Guard Training Center, Ethics, and the Office of Military Affairs which includes: Public Affairs, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and Government Relations. She is Chair of the Long Range Planning Executive Steering Committee, the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Advisory Committee, is the TAG designee for the Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force and was Co-Chair of the Nursing Shortage Task Force in 2002. During her tenure, the NJ Army and Air National Guard have deployed more than 7,000 soldiers and airmen in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Hurricane Katrina/Rita Relief efforts.Brigadier General Falca-Dodson began her military career in 1980 when she was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard. In 1993, she received her Chief Nurse Badge. In 1998, she was appointed to the position of Commander of the 108th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group. Brigadier General Falca-Dodson has participated in multiple overseas deployments and was the deployed Medical Commander, Task Force Fuertos Caminos, Panama, 1993..
The Brigadier General was born in Trenton, N.J. and graduated from Hamilton High School West. She attended The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1975. She earned a Master of Arts in Administration from Central Michigan University in 1982, and her certification in Community Health Nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 1990.
Brigadier General Falca-Dodson began her military career in 1980 when she was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard. In 1993, she received her Chief Nurse Badge. In 1998, she was appointed to the position of Commander of the 108th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group. Brigadier General Falca-Dodson has participated in multiple overseas deployments and was deployed Medical Commander, Task Force Fuertos Caminos, Panama, 1993.
Brigadier General Falca-Dodson started her civilian-nursing career in medical surgical nursing and home health care. In 1979, she joined the New Jersey State Department of Health where her positions over an 18-year career varied from MCH Director to Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Health Care Systems Analysis. Her responsibilities there included hospital finance, charity care, planning and certificate of need, cardiac and transplant outcomes reports and the Center for Health Statistics. As Vice President of the MIIX Healthcare Group, Brigadier General Falca-Dodson was with MIIX from 1997 to 2002 managing multiple projects for physicians, hospitals, home health agencies, non-profit agencies and major insurance companies.
Brigadier General Falca-Dodson is a member of the Air Force Association, the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the Association of Air National Guard Nurses, the Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. (AMSUS), National Guard Association of the United States, National Guard Association of New Jersey, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of New Jersey, American Legion, Jewish War Veterans, Trenton Elks, The College of NJ Alumni Association Board, and Sigma Theta Tau, Inc. (International Honor Society of Nursing).
Accomplishments include: numerous presentations at state and national conferences on homeland security, bio-terrorism, nursing, other health issues, and deployments. She is published in Healthy New Jersey 2000, Update: Healthy New Jersey 2000 and New Jersey Medicine, primarily on anthrax and bio-terrorism. Brigadier General Falca-Dodson was primarily responsible for the stationing of a Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team in New Jersey. While under her supervision, the NJ ChalleNGe Youth Academy was the recipient of three national awards.
EDUCATION:
1975 Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, The College of New Jersey
1980 Military Indoctrination for Medical Service Officers
1982 Master of Arts in Administration, Central Michigan University
1984 Nursing Services Management
1985 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1991 Air Command and Staff College, in seminar
1994 Air War College, in seminar
1995 Community Nursing Certification
2002 Critical Stress Management Certification
2004 Reserve Components National Security Course
2005 Anti-Terrorism Executive Seminar
2005 Senior Leadership Orientation Course
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. 1980 - 1990, Medical Surgical Clinical Nurse, 108th TAC Clinic, 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
2. 1990 - 1993, Assistant Chief Nurse, 108th TAC Clinic, 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
3. 1993 - 1995, Chief Nurse, 108th Medical Squadron, 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
4. 1995 - 1997, Chief Nurse Executive, 108th Medical Squadron, 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
5. 1997 - 1998, Air Transportable Hospital Commander, 108th Medical Squadron, 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
6. 1998 - 2002, Commander, 108th Medical Group, 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
7. 2002 - Present, Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Trenton, NJ.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terror
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Services Reserve Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal
Air Force Training Ribbon
New Jersey Ribbon of Honor with two Bronze Clusters
New Jersey Merit Award with 22 Arabic Numerals
New Jersey Desert Storm Ribbon
New Jersey Recruiting Ribbon
New Jersey Unit Strength Award
DATES OF PROMOTION:
First Lieutenant 1980
Captain 1981
Major 1986
Lieutenant Colonel 1993
Colonel 2000
Brigadier General 2004
