Williams promoted to brigadier general

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus Brig. Gen. Jason T. Williams became UNG's newest general in a May 16 ceremony at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

Williams, a 1998 graduate who serves as the deputy commanding general for operations of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, is one of more than 60 UNG alumni who have gone on to become flag officers.

"I came in with a foundation. North Georgia took those traits I came with from my parents and enhanced them," Williams said. "The values I had of responsibility and accountability were an easy transition to professionalism and duty. It just made sense to me. North Georgia really instilled that in me."

During his junior year, Williams met his future wife, Shelley, a fellow student. They have been married for 25 years and have three daughters.

"I couldn't do what I do without her support," Jason Williams said.

Shelley Williams later finished her degree elsewhere but felt like it would have meant more to have earned her degree from North Georgia. During the President's Gathering of Generals in April at UNG, Jason Williams and President Michael Shannon surprised Shelley Williams with a certificate granting her alumna status from UNG. 

Decades later, Jason Williams said the leadership he experienced from the military department faculty, his fellow cadets and in the Mountain Order of Colombo shaped the way he encourages young Army leaders.

"You've got to be professional and tough because not every day is going to go your way," Williams said. "You still have to keep your head up and maintain your composure." 

His current assignment is his third at Fort Liberty, where he spent his years as a captain and major, and where all of his children were born. He said it feels like home.

"In my heart from way back, I'm a paratrooper. That's the thing I enjoy most is being around the paratroopers again," Williams said. "It's good to be home."

Retired four-star Gen. Stephen Townsend '82, presided over Williams' promotion ceremony. It was an amazing moment for Williams, who first met the fellow UNG alumnus in 2010 when both were serving in Afghanistan and the younger officer admired Townsend's warrior spirit and continued embodiment of the Ranger Creed. Williams later served as Townsend's executive officer in Townsend's final year of active duty.

"It meant everything to me and Shelley for him to lead the promotion ceremony. It was beyond special," Williams said. "We are deeply grateful to him and Melissa for making the trip down to Fort Liberty and doing that for us."

Williams commissioned as a Field Artillery officer from UNG in 1998. His first assignment was to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he deployed to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Forge. Following completion of the Infantry Captain's Career Course in 2002, Williams moved to Fort Liberty, where he deployed to Iraq twice while serving in various assignments with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade (Airborne) and XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery from 2002 to 2007, including command of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment.

Following Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), Williams returned to Fort Liberty in 2009, where he served as a future operations planner on the 82nd Airborne Division staff in Afghanistan, and later the S3 and executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment in Iraq. Williams then served as the deputy commanding officer for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade (Airborne).

In summer 2013, Williams was assigned to Fort Drum, New York, and the 10th Mountain Division, where he commanded the 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, until summer 2015. Following battalion command, Williams served as deputy executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In summer 2018, Williams returned to the North Country to serve as commander of the 10th Mountain Division Artillery and then as the 10th Mountain Division chief of staff.

In 2021, Williams moved to Germany to serve as the executive officer to the combatant commander of USAFRICOM and later the executive officer to the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Williams holds a master's degree in organizational leadership from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master of Military Arts and Science from SAMS. He also completed an assignment to the Army War College as a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.