New Jersey National Guard

Spotlight

Armaments Center antiterrorism specialist leverages skills during deployment

Eric Kowal | army.mil | February 27, 2025

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - James Siuzdak, recently returned stateside from a near year-long deployment with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s (NJARNG) 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), the largest deployment of New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers since 2008. Read Full Story.

Spotlight

New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy Class 58 marks program’s 30th Anniversary

DMAVA Public Affairs Office | December 17, 2024

Forty cadets graduated New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy in a ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, December 16, 2024. They join a proud lineage of more than 4,500 graduates in the 30 years since the program’s inception in 1994. See event images on NJNG Flickr and read the full news release at DMAVA New Release.

Spotlight

100% Free College Tuition

Serve part-time and go to college full-time. New Jersey state law mandates that every member of the New Jersey Army National Guard is authorized to attend any New Jersey public college or university tuition free for undergraduate and graduate studies. Soldiers may take 16 credits per semester. Get all the details and more at njarmyguard.com.

Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey

Brig. Gen. L. Mike LaPoint

Brig. Gen. L. Mike LaPoint is the Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey. He is the principal advisor to The Adjutant General and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs on all matters concerning military readiness, mobilizations, homeland security, defense support to civil authorities, human resources, logistics, training, and financial management. The duties include the supervision and management of the Department’s 3,200 full-time State and Federal employees, and more than 30 armories and associated properties.

Brig. Gen. LaPoint’s military career began in 1994 when he enlisted into the New Jersey Army National Guard as an Ammunition Specialist. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from New Jersey Military Academy in 1996. During the course of his career, Brig. Gen. LaPoint served in a variety of leadership positions including platoon leader, company executive officer, company commander, battalion personnel officer, battalion executive officer, battalion commander, state tactical operations officer, 57th Troop Command operations officer, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Deputy Commander, the State Army Aviation Officer, and the 57th Troop Command Commander.

Brig. Gen. LaPoint was deployed overseas four times as Aviation Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander to Iraq, 2004–2005; Aviation Battalion Executive Officer to Iraq, 2008–2009; Aviation Battalion Commander to Kosovo, 2014–2015; and 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Deputy Commanding Officer to Kosovo, 2019-2020. In addition to his overseas mobilizations, he was mobilized by the New Jersey Army National Guard for several domestic operations including the initial response on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City, Operation Noble Eagle, and Superstorm Sandy recovery.

Prior to his dual assignment as Deputy Adjutant General and Assistant Adjutant General-Army for the New Jersey National Guard, Brig. Gen. LaPoint served as commander, 57th Troop Command, Atlantic City, New Jersey, April 1, 2021–March 31, 2024. The 57th Troop Command’s wide-ranging missions include command and control, logistics, and joint reception, staging, onward movement, and integration (JRSOI) operations for the New Jersey National Guard in support of domestic and overseas operations. Its units include the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion; 21st Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction); 444th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment; 63rd Army Band; Detachment 1, 173rd Cyber Protection Team; 831st Judge Advocate General Detachment; Detachment 19, Operational Support Airlift; and the National Guard Training Center Headquarters.