Joseph Benjamin Anderson Jr.: From Combat Leadership to Corporate Excellence
A Distinguished Military Officer, Manufacturing Pioneer, and Entrepreneurial Trailblazer Whose Career Spans Six Decades of American Business and Service
Joseph Benjamin Anderson Jr. stands as a living testament to leadership forged under fire and refined through decades of business acumen.
Born in Topeka, Kansas, on February 12, 1943, Anderson’s journey from the segregated schools of America’s heartland to the corridors of corporate power represents one of the most compelling narratives in contemporary Black American business leadership.
Anderson spent two months in Uganda participating in Operation Crossroads Africa, an experience that would broaden his worldview and deepen his understanding of the African diaspora.
Forging Character in Segregated America
Anderson’s early life unfolded during one of America’s most transformative periods. Growing up in Topeka, Kansas, he attended schools at the epicenter of the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision of 1954, which declared segregated schools unconstitutional.
His father, a laborer for the Santa Fe Railroad without formal higher education, nevertheless understood education’s transformative power and incentivized young Joseph’s academic excellence with a dime for every A grade.
This early emphasis on achievement laid the foundation for Anderson’s remarkable trajectory.
The path to West Point came unexpectedly. Anderson had planned to attend the University of Kansas to study engineering when he participated in the American Legion’s Boys State program.
Over the course of his career, Anderson has owned or acquired controlling interests in approximately fifteen companies spanning multiple industries.
His selection for Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., caught the attention of the United States Military Academy, which sent him a postcard expressing interest in his candidacy. In 1961, Anderson entered West Point, becoming one of only six African Americans in a class of 900 cadets.
The experience proved both challenging and character-defining.
Anderson graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and engineering, one of only four African Americans to complete the program out of the original six who entered. During his time at the Academy, the entire Corps of Cadets comprised merely eleven African Americans.
In 1964, while still a cadet, Anderson spent two months in Uganda participating in Operation Crossroads Africa, an experience that would broaden his worldview and deepen his understanding of the African diaspora.
Vietnam: Leadership Under Fire
Upon graduation and commissioning as a second lieutenant, Anderson joined the 82nd Airborne Division and completed both Airborne and Ranger School before deploying to Vietnam in 1966. Serving two tours with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), Anderson commanded an infantry platoon during some of the war’s most intense combat operations.
It was during his first tour that Anderson’s platoon became the subject of an extraordinary piece of wartime journalism.
In September and October 1966, French filmmaker Pierre Schoendoerffer—himself a veteran of the French Indochina War and former prisoner of war—embedded with then-Lieutenant Anderson’s 33-man platoon during Operation Irving in Bồng Sơn, Bình Định Province.
The resulting documentary, The Anderson Platoon (La Section Anderson), captured the raw reality of combat with unflinching honesty and became a cinematic landmark.
The film achieved extraordinary recognition, winning the 1967 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and the 1968 International Emmy Award for Best Documentary.
It has been screened in more than twenty countries and influenced a generation of filmmakers, including Stanley Kubrick, whose use of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” in Full Metal Jacket was a direct homage to Schoendoerffer’s work.
In 1989, a sequel titled Réminiscences reunited surviving members of the platoon twenty years after their Vietnam service.
Anderson’s valor in combat earned him an impressive array of military decorations: two Silver Star Medals, five Bronze Star Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, and eleven Air Medals.
Beyond platoon command, Anderson served as aide-de-camp to two general officers and as an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point.
In 1977, Anderson was selected as a White House Fellow, one of America’s most prestigious public service programs. He served as Special Assistant to Secretary of Commerce Juanita Kreps for one year, then continued working for Secretary Kreps after his fellowship concluded.
This experience provided invaluable exposure to federal policy and high-level executive leadership. After thirteen years of distinguished service and early selection for promotion to lieutenant colonel, Anderson resigned his commission in 1978 to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
Building a Manufacturing Empire
Anderson’s transition from military to corporate leadership began in 1979 when he joined General Motors at Pontiac Motor Division. Over thirteen years, he progressed through increasingly responsible manufacturing positions.
After initial assignments on the production floor, Anderson was named Plant Manager of the Pressed Metal and Plating Operations at Pontiac Motor Division.
His leadership capabilities earned him promotion to Director of the Exterior Systems Business Unit and later General Director of the Body Hardware Business Unit at GM’s Inland Fisher Guide Division—a business unit with 7,000 employees and annual revenue of approximately $1 billion.
In 1991, Anderson made the pivotal decision to leave the security of General Motors to become President and Chief Executive Officer of Composite Energy Management Systems, Incorporated (CEMSI), a privately held company.
This marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
In 1994, Anderson acquired controlling interest in Chivas Products Limited, wiping out his bank account and taking substantial loans to finance the purchase. The company, which manufactured interior trim products and lighting assemblies primarily for the automotive industry, was renamed Chivas Industries, LLC, in 1997.
The early years tested Anderson’s resolve. Chivas faced quality issues and at one point required bankruptcy protection.
However, Anderson implemented a transformational strategy: investing heavily in advanced manufacturing technology and high-precision equipment that gave the company a competitive advantage.
His approach paid off.
Anderson led Chivas Industries until 2002, when he sold his interest in the firm.
TAG Holdings: A Platform for Growth and Mentorship
In 2001, Anderson created TAG Holdings, LLC (standing for The Anderson Group) as a holding company structure for acquiring and managing manufacturing businesses.
This organizational framework would become the foundation for one of the most successful acquisition strategies in American manufacturing. Over the course of his career, Anderson has owned or acquired controlling interests in approximately fifteen companies spanning multiple industries.
TAG Holdings’ portfolio has served automotive, heavy equipment, aerospace, defense, and recreational vehicle markets.
The company currently operates five portfolio companies in the United States: Air Caster, LLC; Baron Industries, LLC; Barton Manufacturing, LLC; Shared Vision, LLC; and Wolverine Assemblies, LLC.
These companies function as Tier I and Tier II suppliers, with several designated as Certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). At its peak before divestitures, TAG Holdings generated annual revenues exceeding $750 million.
Anderson’s acquisition strategy has been both eclectic and strategically focused. Beyond traditional domestic operations, he acquired companies in South Korea and China, demonstrating willingness to pursue opportunities across borders.
His investments have included manufacturers of automotive dampers, temperature sensors, machining operations for aerospace companies like SpaceX, and suppliers to major original equipment manufacturers including Honda, General Motors, and Chrysler.
What distinguishes Anderson’s business philosophy is his commitment to developing the next generation of owners. Seven managers who worked for Anderson have successfully purchased companies from him with his support and mentorship.
One notable example involves a manager hired in 2005 to run a joint venture with Honda.
As Honda expanded the relationship with additional plants in 2007 and 2008, this manager oversaw operations that grew from approximately $200 million in revenue to $700 million by 2010. With Anderson’s guidance, bank support, and customer backing, the manager acquired the businesses and has since grown them to approximately $1 billion in annual revenue.
As recently as March 2022, Anderson sold another company to an individual who had joined TAG Holdings in December 2019, demonstrating the ongoing nature of his commitment to creating entrepreneurial opportunities for talented managers.
This succession-planning approach reflects Anderson’s broader philosophy of wealth creation and leadership development within the Black business community.
Leadership Beyond the Boardroom
Anderson’s influence extends far beyond his own enterprises through extensive board service with major public companies and civic organizations.
He has served on the boards of directors of multiple New York Stock Exchange-listed companies, including Quaker Chemical Corporation, ArvinMeritor (later Meritor, Inc.), NV Energy, Valassis Communications, Rite Aid Corporation, and Gentex Corporation.
His directorship at Gentex, which began in 2022, continues to the present.
Anderson has held significant leadership positions in industry and economic policy. He served as past chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council, providing strategic guidance on American manufacturing competitiveness.
As Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago-Detroit Branch, he contributed to monetary policy discussions and regional economic development. He currently serves on the Defense Business Board, advising the Secretary of Defense on business practices.
His civic engagement includes serving as Chairman of the Board of the National Recreation Foundation, which increases access for young people to outdoor recreation and learning opportunities.
Anderson also participates on the boards of Business Leaders for Michigan, the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association (MAMA), and the Wynnchurch Capital Advisory Board. His community involvement includes the Horizons Upward Bound Advisory Board and the University of Michigan-Dearborn Executive Leaders Advocacy Group.
Recognition and Academic Honors
Anderson’s contributions have earned substantial recognition from academic institutions and professional organizations.
In 1984, he graduated from the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He has received honorary doctoral degrees from two universities: a Doctor of Management degree from Kettering University in June 2007 and a Doctor of Commercial Science degree from Central Michigan University in December 2013.
In May 2016, Anderson received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy at West Point, the institution’s highest honor for alumni.
The award recognized his lifetime of achievement across military service, business leadership, and community engagement. The West Point Association of Graduates noted that Anderson has “inculcated, personified, and radiated West Point’s values” throughout his career.
Anderson has served as a Diversity Strategic Advisor to the Superintendent at West Point, helping establish the West Point Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity.
According to West Point Admissions, his efforts contributed to a 23 percent increase in applications from African American students over a five-year period.
In recognition of his military service and contributions to Michigan’s veteran community, Anderson was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor.
This honor acknowledges not only his combat valor but his continued service to veterans and military families throughout his business career.
A Philosophy of Leadership and Legacy
Now 82 years old, Anderson continues to serve as majority owner, Chairman, and CEO of TAG Holdings, LLC, operating from the company’s headquarters in Wixom, Michigan. He resides in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he has lived for more than thirty years.
Anderson’s leadership philosophy, honed through combat command, corporate management, and entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizes several core principles.
He has consistently stated that success in manufacturing depends fundamentally on people—attracting, developing, and retaining talent capable of creating differentiated products rather than commodities.
His investments in advanced technology and equipment reflect a belief that providing workers with superior tools creates competitive advantages.
Perhaps most significantly, Anderson views business ownership as a vehicle for creating opportunities for others. His pattern of mentoring managers and facilitating their acquisition of businesses from his portfolio represents a distinctive approach to wealth creation and leadership succession.
“It’s not a matter of whether you win or lose, it’s whether you quit,” Anderson has said, “and I have never quit”.
Anderson’s career has been documented in various media, including CNBC’s Blue Collar Millionaires series, which profiled his journey as a self-made manufacturing entrepreneur.
He has been featured in publications including Oprah Daily, which highlighted his reflections on leadership, military service, and building one of the largest holding companies in the automotive industry.
Enduring Impact
Joseph Benjamin Anderson Jr.’s life represents a masterclass in leadership across multiple domains.
From one of four African Americans graduating from West Point in 1965, through decorated combat service in Vietnam, to building and selling manufacturing companies with cumulative revenues exceeding $1.6 billion, Anderson has consistently broken barriers and created pathways for others.
His story unfolds against the backdrop of America’s most significant social transformations—school desegregation, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, deindustrialization, and the ongoing struggle for economic equity.
Through each chapter, Anderson has demonstrated that excellence, integrity, and commitment to developing others create lasting impact beyond individual achievement.
As American manufacturing faces renewed challenges in global competitiveness, Anderson’s insistence on keeping production and jobs in the United States while maintaining profitability through technological investment and workforce development offers a compelling model.
His emphasis on creating ownership opportunities for talented managers provides a blueprint for wealth creation within underserved communities.
For aspiring Black entrepreneurs and business leaders, Anderson’s journey demonstrates that leadership capabilities developed in one domain—whether military service, corporate management, or entrepreneurial ventures—transfer and compound across contexts.
His willingness to risk personal assets, endure setbacks, and persistently pursue long-term value creation exemplifies the resilience required for transformational success.
Today, at an age when many would have long since retired, Joseph B. Anderson Jr. continues leading, mentoring, and building—a living embodiment of duty, honor, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that has defined his remarkable eight-decade journey.
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