MG Joe W. Rigby was born in Aspermont, Texas, on 4 January 1940. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Science from the United States Military Academy in 1962. A graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College, General Rigby has also completed the Infantry Basic and Advanced courses. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree with an Operations Research and Systems Analysis specialty from the University of Texas.
Prior to assuming Command of the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) on 27 July 1992, General Rigby served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development, and Engineering at Headquarters, Army Materiel Command. He has held a wide variety of important command and staff positions including command of the 2d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division, with the Eighth United States Army, Korea; Director, Joint Analysis Directorate, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Deputy Director for Force Structure, Resource and Assessment, J-8, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General Rigby served in a variety of important career building assignments preparatory to his most recent duties. He served in the 101st Airborne Division as a rifle and scout platoon leader and a company commander. He had two tours in the Vietnam War: the first as an infantry advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Army, and the second as a battalion and brigade operations officer in the 25th Infantry Division. Following graduate schooling, he was Chief of Project Control for Tactical Operations Systems with the Army Computer Systems Command. Reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, he commanded an infantry battalion and served as a brigade executive officer. General Rigby also performed duty as the division's Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G-3.
Awards and decorations received include the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal with "V" device (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medals with "V" device. General Rigby has also received the Army Commendation Medal and is authorized to wear the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and the Army General Staff Identification Badge.