BRIGADIER GENERAL GARY H. WILFONG
Brigadier General Gary H. Wilfong is the assistant adjutant general who also serves as the commander of the North Carolina Air National Guard. He is the primary advisor to the adjutant general of North Carolina on Air National Guard affairs both State and Federal. He is responsible for formulating plans for flying activities based on training requirements and directives from higher headquarters. He analyzes and evaluates training programs and operational readiness status to determine training effectiveness, mission capability, unit effectiveness, mission accomplishments, and problems pertaining to operations-related matters. The North Carolina Air National is comprised of units located at the 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte/Douglas International Airport; 118th Air Support Operations Squadron and 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron, Stanly County Airport; and the 263rd Combat Communications Squadron, Badin, NC.
The general received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Program. While on active duty he obtained his master of arts degree in geography through the Operation Bootstrap program at East Carolina University in 1977. General Wilfong separated from the United States Air Force in June 1979 and joined the North Carolina Air National Guard that same month. Since joining the North Carolina Air National Guard, he has served in numerous positions. He is a command pilot with more than 4,204 flying hours. He served as mission commander of deployed forces in support of Operation Volant Partner in Belgium in 1992, Coronet Oak in 1999 and Phoenix Oak in 1994 in Panama, and Joint Endeavor in Germany in 1996.
EDUCATION:
1971 Bachelor of arts degree in geography and minor in aerospace studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
1976 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1977 Master of arts degree in geography, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
1977 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1978 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1994 Air War College, by seminar
1994 Marine Corps Amphibious War College, by seminar
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. February 1973 - January 1974, student, undergraduate pilot training, Webb Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1974 - August 1974, C-130E Pilot Qualification Training, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
3. August 1974 - February 1976, squadron pilot C-130E/H, 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
4. February 1976 - November 1976, squadron aircraft commander C-130E/H, 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
5. November 1976 - March 1977, student, Operation Bootstrap Program, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
5. March 1977 - June 1977, student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
6. June 1977 - November 1977, squadron aircraft commander C-130H, 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
7. November 1977 - November 1978, squadron instructor pilot C-130H, 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
8. November 1978 - June 1979, squadron standardization/evaluation flight examiner C-130H, 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
9. June 1979 - September 1983, unit aircraft commander C-130B, 156th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Charlotte, N.C.
10. September 1983 - December 1989, instructor pilot C-130B, 156th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Charlotte, N.C.
11. December 1989 - December 1992, pilot tactical airlift C-130B, 156th Airlift Squadron, Charlotte, N.C.
12. December 1992 - November 1994, squadron operation officer, 156th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Charlotte, N.C.
13. November 1994 - May 1995, inactive status, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colo.
14. May 1995 - December 1996, commander, 156th Airlift Squadron, Charlotte, N.C.
15. December 1996 - December 1997, operations group commander, Headquarters, 145th Operations Group, Charlotte, N.C.
16. December 1997 - December 1999, commander, Headquarters, 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte, N.C.
17. December 1999 - June 2001, chief of staff, Headquarters North Carolina Air National Guard, Charlotte, N.C.
18. June 2001 - present, assistant adjutant general who also serves as commander of the North Carolina Air National Guard, Headquarters North Carolina Air National Guard, Charlotte, N.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 4,204
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, C-130B/E/H, and H-3
Pilot wings from: Webb Air Force Base, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS & DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four devices
Combat Readiness Medal with seven devices
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with five devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one device
Air Force Training Ribbon
North Carolina National Guard Meritorious Service Medal
North Carolina National Guard Meritorious Unit Citation
North Carolina National Guard State Service Ribbon
North Carolina National Guard State Active Duty Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
A distinguished graduate of the AFROTC program, East Carolina University
Recipient of an AFROTC Scholarship
Judge for the Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards Board (CSTEA).
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
Senior Captain for US Airways with over 13,000 hours of commercial flight time. He is a former FAA Designated Flight Examiner and was the co-chair of US Airways Flight Standardization committee.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant Jun 9, 1971
First Lieutenant Jun 9, 1974
Captain Jun 9, 1976
Major Jul 5, 1985
Lieutenant Colonel Apr 1, 1992
Colonel Dec 12, 1996
Brigadier General Jan 9, 2000
(Current as of October 2002)