Commanding General

Commanding General’s Biography

Brigadier General Maurice (Moe) Barnett assumed command of U.S. Army Cadet Command on August 7, 2024, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. As the Commanding General, BG Barnett leads Cadet Command’s mission to select, educate, train, and commission college students to be officers and leaders of character in the Total Army and form partnerships with high schools to conduct JROTC programs to develop citizens of character for a lifetime of commitment and service to the Nation.

Barnett is a native of Gary, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University – Northwest in 1994 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery Corps. He holds a bachelor’s in general studies and master’s degrees in Kinesiology and Strategic Studies. His military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Marine Corps War College.

In his 29 years of service to our Nation, Barnett has served in a variety of command and staff positions. His previous assignments include: Platoon Leader, S4 and Force Modernization Officer in the 1-44th Air Defense Artillery; Assistant Operations Officer and Company Commander in the 62nd Air Defense Artillery; Senior Air Defense Coordinator in the 69th Air Defense Brigade; Operations Officer and Executive Officer in the 5-7th Air Defense Artillery; Commander of 1-44th Air & Missile Defense Battalion; Deputy Commanding Officer of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade; Commander of the 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade; and Deputy Commanding General for the U.S. Army Cadet Command from July 2021 to June 2022. Most recently, Barnett served as the Commander of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) in Germany.

Barnett’s other assignments include service as an instructor in the Department of Physical Education at the U.S. Military Academy; Senior Air and Missile Defense Analyst and Branch Chief for the Middle East and North Africa Office, Defense Intelligence Agency; and as the Air Defense Artillery Branch Chief for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command. Additionally, he served as the Executive Officer to the Director of the Army Staff.

Barnett’s operational experience includes multiple deployments in support of Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Atlantic Resolve. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Senior Space Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.