Joseph B. Anderson, Jr. born in Topeka, Kansas, graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1965, with a bachelor of science degree in math and engineering. He subsequently received two master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1972 and 1973. Mr. Anderson attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College in 1977. He also is a 1984 graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program. In June 2007, Mr. Anderson received an honorary doctor of management degree from Kettering University.
During his military career, Mr. Anderson commanded troops as an infantry officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and served two tours of duty with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. In addition to troop command, he served as aide-de-camp to two general officers, and was an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point.
Mr. Anderson and the infantry platoon he commanded in Vietnam were subjects of the highly acclaimed documentary film "The Anderson Platoon." The documentary has been shown in more than 20 countries and has won several prizes including the Oscar of the Academy Awards and an Emmy for the "Best Documentary Film of 1967." Mr. Anderson's military awards include two silver stars, five bronze stars, three Army Commendation Medals, and eleven Air Medals. He resigned his commission in 1978, after 13 years of service and early selection for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1977, Mr. Anderson was selected to be a White House Fellow and worked as special assistant to Secretary of Commerce, Juanita Kreps. Following his White House Fellow Year, he continued to work for Secretary Kreps until he joined General Motors in 1979.
Mr. Anderson began his career with
General Motors in 1979 at Pontiac Motor Division. In March
1981, after several manufacturing assignments, he was named plant manager of the Pressed Metal and Plating Operations, Pontiac Motor Division. After three years as a
plant manager, Mr. Anderson held several staff assignments
until April 1989 when he was appointed director of the
Exterior Systems Business Unit, Inland Fisher Guide Division
of General Motors Corporation.
In June 1990 he was appointed
General Director, Body Hardware Business Unit, Inland Fisher
Guide Division, General Motors Corporation, a business unit
with 7,000 employees and revenues of $1 billion.
In December 1992, after 13 years of service, Mr. Anderson resigned from General Motors to become president and chief executive officer of Composite Energy Management Systems, Incorporated (CEMSI). In October 1994, Mr. Anderson acquired a controlling interest in Chivas Products Limited, Trim, Lighting and Plastics operations. In 1997 the company was restructured as Chivas Industries, LLC. Mr. Anderson served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer until 2002, when he sold his interest in full to Continental Plastics.
Mr. Anderson is currently the majority owner and CEO of TAG Holdings, LLC which owns several manufacturing, service and technology based entities based in North America. These entities serve a variety of industries including automotive, heavy equipment, aerospace and defense.
Mr. Anderson currently serves on the company Boards of Directors of Quaker Chemical Corporation, Meritor, Inc., NV Energy, Valassis Communications and Rite Aid Corporation. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association and the board of the National Recreation Foundation. Mr. Anderson was appointed and serves as Chairman of the Manufacturing Council with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. Anderson’s community involvement includes Horizons-Upward Bound Advisory Board.
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