Lieutenant General Joseph Richard Inge, U.S. Army, was born on August 20, 1947, in Chase City, Virginia. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor and awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture upon graduation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1969. He holds a Master of Arts in Personnel Management and Administration from Central Michigan University. His military education includes the Armor Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

Prior to being assigned as Commanding General, First United States Army, October 2001, he served as Deputy, The Inspector General. General Inge was the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Japan and the 9^th Theater Army Area Command from 1998 to 2000. He served as the Deputy Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from 1996 to 1998 and as the Assistant Division Commander, 3^rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia from 1995 to 1996.

General Inge served in a variety of other Command and Staff positions:

General Inge’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (two Bronze Service Stars), Southwest Asia Service Medal (one Bronze Service Star), Overseas Service Ribbon (4), Japanese Award of the Order of Sacred Treasure Gold and Silver, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. Qualification badges include the Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, Army Staff Identification Badge, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

Lieutenant General Inge and his wife, Linda, have two adult children: Amy and Joe Jr.