MAJOR GENERAL KENNETH W. WISIAN
Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Texas Air National Guard
Major General Kenneth W. Wisian is Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Texas National Guard and also serves as Commander, Texas Air National Guard. He is the principal advisor to The Adjutant General for all Air National Guard issues. Additionally, he is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all programs, policies and plans for three Wings and 3200 Air National Guard personnel throughout the State of Texas. The largest operational units of the Texas Air National Guard are the 136th Airlift Wing, 147th Reconnaissance Wing and 149th Fighter Wing.
General Wisian was commissioned in 1982 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at The University of Texas at Austin. During ten years of active duty, he served as navigator/bombardier and experimental test navigator, instructor and evaluator in B-52s and special mission C-130s. In 1993, he left active duty to pursue his Doctorate degree. General Wisian transferred to the Texas Air National Guard in 1994. As both a part-time and full-time guardsman he served as a C-130 and RC-26 navigator, instructor and evaluator. He commanded an Operations Flight, Operations Group and Reconnaissance Wing and held leadership positions in Expeditionary Squadrons and Groups. He has also planned, participated in and led multiple disaster responses for Texas. In 2011, General Wisian was appointed by the Governor as the Assistant Adjutant General - Air. General Wisian has combat time in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq.
EDUCATION:
1982 University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts, Physics, Austin, Texas
1990 Centenary College of Louisiana, Master of Science, Geology, Shreveport, Louisiana
1990 United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California
1999 Southern Methodist University, Doctorate, Philosophy in Geophysics, Dallas, Texas
2004 United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
2004 United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
2013 National Defense University, CAPSTONE, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1982 - June 1983, Student, 323d Flying Training Wing, Mather Air Force Base, California
2. June 1983 - January 1984, Student, Navigator Bombardier Training, 323d Flying Training Wing, Mather Air Force Base, California
3. January 1984 - May 1984, Student, Navigator Training, B-52G, Castle Air Force Base, California
4. May 1984 - June 1985, Navigator, B-52G, 596th Bombardment Heavy Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
5. June 1985 - April 1986, Instructor Navigator, B-52G, 596th Bombardment Heavy Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
6. April 1986 - July 1986, Student, Radar Navigator Upgrade Training, B-52G, 329th Strategic Bombardment Training Squadron, Castle Air Force Base, California
7. July 1986 - July 1987, Radar Navigator, B-52G, 596th Bombardment Heavy Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
8. July 1987 - October 1987, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
9. October 1987 - July 1988, Instructor, Radar Navigator, B-52G, 596th Bombardment Heavy Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
10. August 1988 - November 1989, Standardization and Evaluation Instructor/Radar Navigator, B-52G, 596th Bombardment Heavy Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
11. November 1989 - December 1990, Student, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Class 90A, Edwards Air Force Base, California
12. December 1990-December 1991, Experimental Test Navigator, Special Operations Combined Test Force, 6518th Test Squadron, Edwards Air Force Base, California
13. December 1991 - December 1992, Lead Navigator, AC-130U Gunship Test Program, 418th Test Squadron, Edwards Air Force Base, California
14. December 1992 - June 1994, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colorado
15. June 1994 - December 1998, Navigator, 181st Airlift Squadron, Hensley Field, Dallas, Texas
16. December 1998 - December 2000, Assistant Operations Officer, 181st Airlift Squadron, Carswell Field, Fort Worth, Texas
17. December 2000 - July 2002, Chief Navigator, 181st Airlift Squadron, Carswell Field, Fort Worth, Texas
18. July 2002 - July 2003, 136th Operations Support Flight, Carswell Field, Fort Worth, Texas
19. July 2003 - June 2004, Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
20. June 2004 - June 2006, Commander, 136th Operations Support Flight, Carswell Field, Fort Worth, Texas
21. June 2006 - June 2007, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colorado
22. June 2007 - June 2009, Commander, 136th Operations Group, Carswell Field, Fort Worth, Texas
23. June 2009 - June 2011, Commander, 147th Reconnaissance Wing, Ellington Field, Houston, Texas
24. July 2011 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Texas National Guard, Austin, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 3800
Aircraft Flown: RC-26B, C-130H, B-52G, MC-130H, AC-130U, T-38, F/RF-4 (C/E/G)
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Unit Award
Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Frame (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Longevity Service (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver, 2 M Devices and Numeral 2)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal
Texas Outstanding Service Medal
Texas Adjutant Genera's Individual Award (with 3 Stars)
Texas Federal Service Medal
Texas Faithful Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Cactus)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Texas
Air Force Association
World Affairs Council
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
1982, Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
1983, Distinguished Graduate, Navigator-Bombardier Training
1984, Outstanding Graduate, B-52 Combat Crew Training
1991-1992, 70+ hours of medium and high-risk test flights, Edwards Air Force Base, California
May 2001, Operations Officer, 38th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
1 Feb 2003, Initial Airborne Commander, NASA Shuttle Columbia Search and Rescue, Texas/Louisiana
February - April 2005, Operations Officer, 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Uzbekistan
January - April 2008, Deputy Commander, 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, Afghanistan
September 2008, Co-Director Texas Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) for hurricane response
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 16 August 1982
First Lieutenant 16 August 1984
Captain 16 August 1986
Major 22 May 1996
Lieutenant Colonel 12 October 2000
Colonel 1 October 2006
Brigadier General 26 September 2011
Major General 24 February 2014
(Current as of August 2014)