Military and Veterans Affairs Hall of Fame Welcomes Two New Inductees

ANNVILLE, Pa., Sept. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) today inducted two new members into its prestigious Hall of Fame, recognizing their exceptional service to the department, the Pennsylvania National Guard, and Pennsylvania's veterans.

Honored today were Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry G. Beck Jr., who served 34 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard and the DMVA; and Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Richard "Dick" A. Schaeffer Jr., who served the Pennsylvania National Guard for more than 50 years.

"The Hall of Fame represents the highest honor our department can bestow," said Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania's adjutant general. "It's our way of expressing our profound gratitude to individuals whose extraordinary service and dedication have greatly impacted our success.

"Both General Beck and Chief Schaeffer had distinguished military careers that spanned decades and their unwavering commitment to DMVA, the Pennsylvania National Guard, and the great veterans of this commonwealth is immeasurable."

Beck, who enlisted in the Pa. National Guard as a private in July 1977, received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1979. With increasing responsibility and a variety of assignments, he was promoted to brigadier general in 2003 and selected as the commanding general of Multi-National Brigade (East) KFOR 5 in Kosovo. During that tour of duty, he provided command and control to approximately 3,500 multinational soldiers in the U.S. sector of Kosovo.

He served as the deputy commanding general for maneuver of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division from 2004 to 2006 and was subsequently appointed as the commanding general of the 28th Infantry Division where he served from 2006-2009. Beck retired as the deputy adjutant general – Army in August 2011. In 2013, he was appointed deputy adjutant general of veterans affairs, where he supervised the administration of assistance programs for nearly 1 million veterans and their dependents as well as the operation of the commonwealth's six veteran's homes. He retired from this position in November 2016.

Schaeffer began his career as a private enlisting in the Army National Guard in August 1964 where he served as an armorer, then as unit supply sergeant and finally as senior supply sergeant with the rank of sergeant first class. In 1983, then Staff Sgt. Schaeffer was appointed as a warrant officer in the Quartermaster Corps and served the next 26 years in positions of increasing responsibility in the State Area Command/Joint Forces Headquarters. When he retired as a chief warrant officer five in 2009, Schaeffer was the most senior logistical warrant officer and the longest serving soldier in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He has mentored generations of Guardsmen and was instrumental in developing the logistical enterprise within the commonwealth.

After retiring from the Pennsylvania National Guard, Schaeffer served an additional six years, until 2015, as a logistics contractor in support of the United States Property and Fiscal Office and the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The DMVA Hall of Fame, established in 1998, recognizes unique and exemplary contributions and significant achievements by an individual in service and support of DMVA. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor conferred upon an individual by the department.

For more information about the DMVA, visit us online at www.dmva.pa.gov or follow us at www.facebook.com/padmva or www.twitter.com/padmva. 

Link to photo of Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry G. Beck Jr.:
http://www.dmva.pa.gov/PublishingImages/BrigGen(Ret)JerryG.BeckJr.jpeg

Link to photo of Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Richard "Dick" A. Schaeffer Jr.: http://www.dmva.pa.gov/PublishingImages/ChiefWarrantOfficer5(Ret)RichardA.SchaefferJr.jpeg

MEDIA CONTACT: Joan Zlogar Nissley, office 717-861-8720, cell 717-821-4562

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Related Links

http://www.dmva.pa.gov