BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES R. WILSON
Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Michigan Air National Guard
Brigadier General James R. Wilson currently serves as the Assistant Adjutant General, Michigan Air National Guard, Lansing, Michigan. General Wilson is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating policies, plans and programs affecting more than 2,700 members of the Michigan Air National Guard.
General Wilson earned his Commission from the Academy of Military Science in 1978. He was an outstanding honor graduate from basic military training and an honor graduate from Non-Destructive Inspection Technical School. He was a Distinguished Graduate from F-4 RTU, and served as an F-4 Weapons System Officer, Instructor, Weapons and Tactics Officer, Squadron Standardization and Evaluation Officer, Squadron and Wing Scheduler, Flight Examiner, and Supervisor of Flying. He was a Detachment Commander for nine years before serving on the Headquarters Air Force staff as the Deputy Associate Director for Ranges and Airspace. Prior to assuming his current position, General Wilson was the Director, Plans and Programs Directorate at the National Guard Bureau.
He is a 1984 Fighter Weapons School graduate with over 2,200 hours in the F-4.
EDUCATION:
1982 Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Academy, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1987 Purdue University, Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Fort Wayne, Indiana
1991 Indiana Wesleyan University, Master of Science, Management, Marion, Indiana
1998 Air War College, by correspondence
2009 George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Senior Executive Seminar, Garmisch, Germany
2010 Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, United States ' Russia Security Program, Cambridge, Massachusetts
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. September 1978 - July 1979, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather Air Force Base, California
2. September 1979 - November 1979, Student, Fighter Lead-In Training, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
3. November 1979 - June 1980, Student, F-4 Upgrade Training, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
5. June 1980 - August 1984, Airspace Manager/Scheduler, 163rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Fort Wayne, Indiana
6. August 1984 - December 1984, Student, F-4 Fighter Weapons School, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas
7. December 1984 - October 1991, Scheduler/Standardization and Evaluation Officer/ Chief Weapons and Tactics, 163rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Fort Wayne, Indiana
8. October 1991 - July 2001, Range Officer/Commander, Detachment 1, 181st Fighter Wing, Camp Atterbury, Indiana
9. July 2001 - September 2004, Deputy Associate Director for Ranges and Airspace and Manpower, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia
10. September 2004 - May 2005, Chief, Manpower Division, Plans, Programs and Manpower, Air National Guard Directorate, Arlington, Virginia
11. May 2005 - May 2006, Deputy Director, Plans and Programs, Air National Guard Directorate, Arlington, Virginia
12. May 2006 - April 2008, Director, Plans and Programs, Air National Guard Directorate, Arlington, Virginia
13. April 2008 - June 2008, United States Air Force Reserve, Headquarters, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colorado
14. June 2008 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Michigan Air National Guard, Joint Forces Headquarters, Lansing, Michigan
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,200
Aircraft Flown: F-4C/D/E, T-37, T-38, T-43
Navigator Wings: Mather Air Force Base, California
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Combat Readiness Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
President and CEO of Wilson Defense Solutions LLC and Partner in Northstar Services, LLC located in Springfield, Virginia. The company offers consulting services to governmental and non-governmental entities with a focus on strategic planning, operational and programmatic issues.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:
American Legion Post 43
Lifetime Member, National Guard Association of Indiana
Air Force Association
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Michigan
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 21 September 1978
First Lieutenant 21 September 1981
Captain 4 May 1984
Major 1 March 1989
Lieutenant Colonel 10 April 1994
Colonel 18 September 2002
Brigadier General 16 April 2008
(Current as of December 2012)