Joseph B. Anderson, Jr. born in Topeka, Kansas, graduated from the United States Military Academy at
West Point with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Engineering. He subsequently received two
master degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Anderson attended the Army’s Command
and General Staff College and is a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program. Mr. Anderson
received an Honorary Doctor of Management Degree from Kettering University and an Honorary Doctor of
Commercial Science Degree from Central Michigan University. In May 2016, Mr. Anderson received the
Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy at West Point, honoring him for his
lifetime of achievement.
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, Mr.
Anderson served as aide-de-camp to two general officers, and he also 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 awards to include the Oscar of the Academy
Awards and an Emmy. Mr. Anderson’s military awards include two silver stars, five bronze stars, three Army
Commendation Medals, and eleven Air Medals. Mr. Anderson resigned his commission after 13 years of
service and early selection for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
While in the Army, Mr. Anderson was selected to be a White House Fellow and worked as Special Assistant to
Secretary of Commerce, Juanita Kreps for one year. After the assignment, Mr. Anderson continued to work for
Secretary Kreps until he joined General Motors.
Mr. Anderson began his business career with General Motors at Pontiac Motor Division. After several
manufacturing assignments, Mr. Anderson 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 he was appointed Director of the Exterior Systems Business Unit, Inland Fisher Guide
Division of General Motors Corporation. He was later appointed General Director, Body Hardware Business
Unit, Inland Fisher Guide Division, General Motors Corporation, a business unit with 7,000 employees and
revenue of $1 billion. After 13 years of service, Mr. Anderson resigned from General Motors to become
President and Chief Executive Officer of a privately held company, Composite Energy Management Systems,
Incorporated (CEMSI). He later acquired controlling interest in another privately held entity, Chivas Products
Limited, which manufactured interior trim products and lighting assemblies principally for the automotive
industry. Mr. Anderson is currently the majority owner, Chairman and CEO of TAG Holdings, LLC which
owns several manufacturing, service and technology-based companies currently based in North America. Over
the course of its history, TAG Holdings has engaged in 15 acquisitions and joint ventures located in North
America, Korea and China. These businesses have served a variety of industries including automotive, heavy
equipment, aerospace and defense.
Mr. Anderson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Business Leaders for Michigan; Board of Directors
of Michigan Aerospace Manufactures Association (MAMA); Wynnchurch Capital Advisory Board and
Modular Assembly Innovations Board of Managers. Mr. Anderson also serves as Chairman, Federal Reserve
Bank of Chicago-Detroit Branch. His community involvement includes Chairman of the Board of the National
Recreation Foundation; Horizons Upward Bound Advisory Board and the University of Michigan-Dearborn
Executive Leaders Advocacy Group. Mr. Anderson has served on the Boards of Directors of several New York
Stock Exchange companies. He is a past chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing
Council.
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