ANNVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) – Major General John R. Pippy was sworn in Friday as Pennsylvania’s 55th adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Pippy also assumes command of the Pennsylvania National Guard, the third largest in the nation.

Pippy has served as acting adjutant general since late September after Mark Schindler announced his retirement. He previously served as director of the joint staff at the Pennsylvania National Guard Joint Force Headquarters at Fort Indiantown Gap.

“Ensuring the PA National Guard is able to effectively serve our communities, our Commonwealth, and our country and that the DMVA is able to deliver for Pennsylvania service members, veterans, and their families is critically important to my Administration,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Major General Pippy has the experience and readiness to lead – and I look forward to working with him and the men and women of the PA National Guard and the DMVA to continue delivering for all Pennsylvanians.”

Pippy has served on two deployments to the Middle East, including in 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Commander of the 332nd EN CO.