Brigadier General Frank J. McGovern IV is currently assigned as an Assistant Adjutant General for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard with duty as the Special Assistant to The Adjutant General.
Brigadier General McGovern commissioned in 1991 through Widener University’s ROTC program and has held a variety of diverse positions over his 30 years of service. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Staff Judge Advocate of the 28th Infantry Division. He also served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters, and as the Regional Defense Counsel of the 728th Regional Trial Defense Team.
Brigadier General McGovern’s deployments include his service as the 28th Infantry Division’s Staff Judge Advocate as part of Operation Spartan Shield in 2022-2023; as the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s Foreign Claims and Legal Assistance Attorney in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009; and as a Liaison Officer and International Law Officer with the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004.
His military education includes the Judge Advocate General's Corps Officer Basic Course, the Civil Affairs Officer Advanced Course, the Judge Advocate General’s Corps Officer Advanced Course, the Psychological Operations Officer Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer Course and the United States Army War College.
Brigadier General McGovern holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics, a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate from Widener University. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science with a Master of Science in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management and holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.
His awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal (second award), Meritorious Service Medal (third award), Army Commendation Medal (fifth award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (Navy), Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Air Assault Badge and Parachutist Badge.
Brigadier General McGovern represented the United States in international competitions as a member of the US Military Pentathlon team from 1997-2001. He was a member of the U.S. military orienteering team at the World Military Games, Croatia, 1999, and a member of the U.S. Army Adventure racing team at Eco-Challenge, New Zealand, 2001. He was selected as the Outstanding Career Judge Advocate (National Guard and US Army Reserves), 2023, by the Judge Advocate Association. He was the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, SOCOM nominee in 2003 and a college Academic All-American in Cross Country and Track.
Brigadier General McGovern is a resident of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He has four children, Max, Luke, Emme and Chloe.