RICHMOND, Va. –
Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Samulski has been selected to succeed Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno as the commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made June 3, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. A change of command ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 3 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia
DiNonno will serve as Special Assistant to Director, Army National Guard for XVIII Airborne Corps Matters effective Sept. 1, 2025.
“Please join me in recognizing Maj. Gen. Joseph DiNonno for his exemplary leadership of the 29th Infantry Division,” Ring said in the announcement. “His strategic vision and steadfast guidance have significantly shaped the organization and will have a lasting impact for years to come.”
Samulski currently serves as the 29th ID deputy commanding general for operations.
“Brig. Gen. Samulski's exceptional contributions, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence make him the ideal leader to serve as the 29th Infantry Division's Commanding General,” Ring said.
Samulski has served as the 29th ID deputy commanding general for operations since August 2023. He commanded the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from August 2020 to January 2023 including their mobilization to Kosovo as Task Force Saint Lo from to February to November 2022 . He began his military career in 1995 when he enlisted as a mortarman in the Army National Guard, and he earned his commission as an Infantry officer in August 1997. He served in a variety of staff and command positions including infantry company command, battalion operations officer, commander of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment and operations officer for the 29th Infantry Division. He deployed to Iraq in 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and commanded 1-116th Infantry during their deployment to Qatar in 2016 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Spartan Shield. Samulski received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, in 1995, and he also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College Class of 2017. He also earned the Expert Infantryman Badge. Read his full bio at https://vngpao.info/2p92jeaw.
DiNonno took command of the 29th ID in August 2023 after serving as the deputy commandeering general for operations since September 2020. He commanded the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from June 2018 to July 2020. He graduated from Old Dominion University and commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1994. During the course of his career, he served in a wide variety of leadership positions including platoon leader, company executive officer, Infantry company commander, planner, squadron operations officer, squadron executive officer, squadron commander and Infantry brigade executive officer before commanding the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He mobilized and deployed to Guantanamo Bay in 2002-03 and Kuwait in 2007-08 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, to Iraq in 2011 in support of Operation New Dawn and to Jordan in 2021 to 2022 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield). DiNonno holds a Juris Doctor from Regent Law School, a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Army War College and a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University, and his military achievements include earning the U.S. Army Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman Badge, Airborne Badge and Air Assault Badge. Read his full bio at https://vngpao.info/5n7hx6xz.