On Aug. 31, Lake Oconee added another family with strong military ties and distinction to the community. On Saturday, the Marshall family, Jennie, Maddie and Austin, participated in the promotion and pinning of Kris Marshall to the rank of Brigadier General (BG) at the University of North Georgia. Alongside the family was Maj. Gen. Dwayne Wilson (the Adjutant General of Georgia), Lt. Gen. (LTG) James Terry(Retired), Brig. Gen. Jason Fryman (Deputy Adjutant General and Commanding General of the Georgia Army National Guard)and Col. Barry Simmons (Chief of the Joint Staff).

The Marshall family celebrated the event with college friends, military service members and community from the Lake Oconee area. Formal events were followed by a gathering at the Reynolds Landing pavilion.

Brig. Gen. Marshall has been selected to serve as the director of the Joint Staff for the Georgia National Guard headquartered at Clay National Guard Center. The Georgia National Guard is made up of the Air National Guard and Army National Guard. They are comprised of nearly 15,000 soldiers and airmen, currently deployed across all Combatant Commands across the globe and actively responding to events in our state and nation. Most recently, they supported the state’s response to Hurricane Debbie in southeast Georgia.

Kris and Jennie Marshall met at North Georgia College. Kris was a Sigma Chi and Jennie a Phi Mu. Kris commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps in 1998 and has served in positions of increased responsibility including platoon leader, company commander, battalion staff, battalion command, brigade staff, state primary staff, brigade command and most recently director of Joint Staff. He deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in 2003 and again to Afghanistan in 2013. Between these deployments, Marshall served in Korea, Malaysia, Uganda, Rwanda, and the country of Georgia. His most recent command position was as commander of the 648^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Moore, Georgia, where he was responsible for approximately 1,800 soldiers geographically dispersed across the state. He has been involved in the state’s response to COVID-19 as well as Hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Debbie.

Marshall is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Dual Status Commander’s Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Brigade and Battalion Pre Command Courses, and the Command and General Staff College. His awards include the Legion of Merit, multiple Meritorious Service Medals, and Joint Service Commendation Medal among others.

The Marshall Family moved to Lake Oconee in 2006 and they have been active members of the community since. Jennie’s family, Ed and Jane Sowell, originally drew them to the area. Kris’ civilian job is as vice president of Weidmann Remodeling, a design/build company serving the lake since 2014. Since relocating, Kris’ parents, Kevin and Lynn Kaley, have moved to the lake. Maddie and Austin both attended Lake Oconee Academy with Maddie graduating in 2023 and currently attending Piedmont University. Austin is a senior with plans to attend college in the fall.