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Two-time Kean Alumnus, Jemal J. Beale, Major General (Ret.), NJSG is Inducted into Medallion Society

Two-time Kean Alumnus, Jemal J. Beale, Major General (Ret.), NJSG is Inducted into Medallion Society

Dr. Jemal J. Beale '92, '95, CEO and President of Apex Solutions Group LLC, is one of the newest members of the Kean University Medallion Society.

A two-time alumnus, longtime supporter, and friend to many at Kean, Jemal decided to include Kean in his estate plans earlier this spring by naming the Kean University Foundation as a beneficiary of one of his life insurance policies.

Jemal is grateful for the exceptional education and training he received at Kean, which he believes provided him with a strong foundation for countless accomplishments.

Jemal earned his undergraduate degree in History and his Master's in Public Administration (MPA) at Kean University, before ultimately earning his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree at Rutgers University.

As an undergraduate student Jemal was a member of the Student Council and was even named Homecoming King. During his graduate studies at Kean, Jemal was elected as the President of the Graduate Student Government and selected as a member of the Pi Alpha-Alpha National Academic Honor Society.

However, his most transformative experience as an undergraduate student was when he became an ROTC Cadet through a joint program between Kean University and Seton Hall University. He was already a soldier in the NJ National Guard when he enrolled in this program. At that point in his career, he didn't know what the future would hold. Years later he would ultimately retire from military service with the rank of Major General (NJSG), Brigadier General (USA).

A well decorated veteran, some of the military awards bestowed upon General Beale have included the US Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Combat Action Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.

During his military career Beale moved back and forth between active duty and reserve duty status. Beale served in active combat in Herat, Afghanistan. He also served in various roles of increasing ranks over his long career; stationed throughout the continental United States, Albania, Germany, and Italy.

A lifelong learner, one of Jemal's all-time favorite quotes is by Tom Brady; "What you know is very limited, and what you don't know is limitless!" These are words he lives by. While in military service, he earned a second master's degree, a Master of Strategic Studies (MSS), from the U.S. Army War College.

In 2018, Beale was appointed to the New Jersey Cabinet as the Commissioner of (NJ) Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the 32nd Adjutant General by Governor Phil Murphy. General Beale is proud to share that he was the first African American appointed to this position in the State of New Jersey. In this role, General Beale commanded more than 8,400 Soldiers and Airmen of the New Jersey National Guard and oversaw all veterans' programs in the state of New Jersey which included forty-seven facilities in support of 350,000+ veterans at the time.

Upon retiring as Commissioner and Adjutant General in 2020, Jemal founded Apex Solutions Group (ASG) along with several hand-picked combat veterans. Apex is a world-class professional services and business management consulting firm, headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.

In addition to his military service, Jemal worked in management at AT&T, U-Haul of Northern America, as an entrepreneur in the family real estate & residential health care business, and as a Graduate Assistant with Kean University in the Public Administration Department.

Known to many as a servant leader and philanthropist, Jemal is a member of civic and charitable organizations. In 2021, Jemal and his partners founded a not-for-profit organization. The Apex Solutions Foundation (ASF) is focused on empowering communities by expanding access to equity and opportunity.

A mentor and friend to many, Jemal shares a final favorite quote by Dinos Christianopoulos which incapsulates his life journey to success and is an inspiration to all, "They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds."

Jemal resides in Monmouth County, New Jersey with his amazing family and is a loyal NY Giants fan. A man of all seasons and many accomplishments. General Beale is a great inspiration to students at Kean today.


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