BRIGADIER GENERAL GENT WELSH, JR
Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh is the Assistant Adjutant General and Commander, Washington Air National Guard, at Camp Murray, Wash. He is responsible for the mission readiness and operational effectiveness of more than 2,100 military and civilian personnel assigned to the 141st Air Refueling Wing in Spokane, Wash., the 194th Wing at Camp Murray, the Western Air Defense Sector located at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), Wash., and Headquarters, Washington Air National Guard, also at Camp Murray.
General Welsh began his military career by enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1988. He transferred to the Air National Guard in 1992 and was later commissioned as a 2d Lieutenant in 1994. He has held a variety of positions in air support operations and combat communications units, including command positions at the squadron, group, and wing levels. He is an in-residence graduate of Air War College, at Maxwell AFB, commanded the 242d Combat Communications Squadron and the 252d Combat Communications Group, and served as the Chief Information Officer, J6 and Chief of Staff for the Washington National Guard. Prior to his current position, General Welsh served as the 194th Wing Commander.
General Welsh has deployed on multiple occasions with the Washington Air National Guard in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, SOUTHERN WATCH, JOINT FORGE and IRAQI FREEDOM. He first served as the Plans and Implementations Flight Commander for the 363d Expeditionary Communications Squadron at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, from October 1999 to December 1999. He later served as the Contingency Plans Officer, HQ USAFE/A6 at Ramstein AB, Germany, from January 2001 to February 2001. General Welsh also served as the Chief of Network Systems and Contingency Communications, Headquarters NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from October 2003 to March 2004. During his latest deployment, he served as the Commander of the 506th Expeditionary Communications Squadron at Kirkuk Regional Air Base/Forward Operating Base Warrior, Iraq, from May 2007 to September 2007.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Wash.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2003 Master of Science, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Wash.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1988 - March 1992, Security Policeman, RAF Lakenheath, U.K. and Fairchild AFB, Wash.
2. March 1992 - February 1994, Intelligence Operations Specialist, 111th ASOC, Camp Murray, Wash.
3. February 1994 - December 1997, Communication Operations Officer, 111th ASOC, Camp Murray, Wash.
4. December 1997 - May 2005, Detachment Commander, 256th CBSC, Four Lakes, Wash.
5. May 2005 - September 2008, Deputy Commander, 242d CBCS, Spokane International Airport ANG Base, Wash.
6. September 2008 - December 2011, Deputy Commander 252d Combat Communications Group, Camp Murray, Wash.
7. December 2010 - August 2011, Commander (Interim), 252d Combat Communications Group, Camp Murray, Wash.
8. December 2011 - June 2013, Chief Information Officer/J6, Washington National Guard, Camp Murray, Wash.
9. June 2013 - May 2014, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. May 2014 - April 2017, Chief of Staff, Washington National Guard, Camp Murray, Wash.
11. September 2015 - April 2017, Vice Commander, 194th Wing, Camp Murray, Wash.
12. April 2017 - December 2019, Commander, 194th Wing, Camp Murray, Wash.
13. January 2020 - June 2020, Commander, Washington Air National Guard, Camp Murray, Wash.
14. June 2020 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Washington Air National Guard, Camp Murray, Wash.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device and eight oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Air Force Association, Life Member
National Guard Association of the United States and Washington
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member
American Legion, Life Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 17, 1994
First Lieutenant Feb. 22, 1996
Captain Feb. 23, 1998
Major Feb. 27, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel July 24, 2006
Colonel May 1, 2013
Brigadier General June 1, 2020
(Current as of December 2021)