Brig. Gen. Joe M. Wells, a Rome native, has been selected as Director of Intelligence and C4I (command, control, communications, computers and (military) intelligence) operations at the National Guard Bureau.

In his new position, Wells will have responsibility over the development of plans, policies and programs relating to the National Guard’s Intelligence and C4I activities. The assignment is anticipated to last two years.

Wells was promoted to Brigadier General in November 2008 and pinned January 2009 and is the first African American general officer in the Georgia Army National Guard in its 256-year history.

Click here to read about a visit by Wells to Main Elementary School.

Prior to this new assignment, Wells was Deputy Commanding General Army National Guard (RC) United States Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca, Az. His principal duty was to advise the Commanding General on all matters pertaining to reserve component forces as it relates to training and readiness.

Wells was commissioned in 1982 into the Georgia Army National Guard. Prior to receiving his commission, he served as an enlisted member for the 1st/30th, 3rd Infantry Division (Europe) and the 159th Military Intelligence Company, Dobbins, Air Reserve Base in Georgia. He received a Masters of Arts in Strategic Intelligence in 2000 at Manassas Park, Virginia and in 2002 an additional Masters of Arts in Strategic Studies at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

In his civilian career, Wells is a commercial pilot with Continental Airlines.