Retired
effective Oct 31, 2001
Major General Paul A. Pochmara is the Air National Guard assistant to the commander, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The command has responsibility for weapons systems research, development, testing and acquisitions and is responsible for depot level maintenance for the United States Air Force.
The General began his military career as an officer training candidate in 1966. After receiving his pilot wings and check out in F-4s, he was assigned to Misawa Air Base, Japan. From there he went to Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. as an F-4 pilot and command post officer. He left active duty in Dec 1971 and in 1972 joined the Michigan Air National Guard, where he held a variety of positions with the 127 TFW, and in 1980, as squadron commander. In 1985, General Pochmara was assigned to Phelps-Collins CRTC as base commander. In 1987, he served as deputy chief of plans and programs, and was appointed as deputy director of manpower and personnel, National Guard Bureau. In 1988, the General became chief of the ANG plans and operations division, National Guard Bureau. General Pochmara was appointed to his previous position as commander of the 113th Wing in July 1990 and to his present position with AFMC in May 1998.
1966 Bachelor of arts degree in math, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
1982 Master of arts degree in personnel, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1975 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1980 National Security Management Course, by correspondence
1. August 1966 - November 1966, officers training school, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. November 1966 - December 1967, undergraduate pilot training, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
3. December 1968 - August 1968, F4 pilot, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
4. August 1968 - February 1971, F4 pilot, wing & squadron admin officer, Misawa Air Base, Japan
5. March 1971 - December 1971, F4 pilot, command post officer, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
6. May 1972 - July 1973, F100 pilot, chief command post, 127th Tactical Fighter Group, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
7. July 1973 - July 1974, F100 pilot, chief stan eval, 127th Tactical Fighter Group, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
8. July 1974 - July 1976, F100 pilot, chief command post, scheduling, 127th Tactical Fighter Group, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
9. July 1976 - June 1981, F100 pilot, squadron ops officer, chief weapons and tactics, chief of training, 107th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
10. June 1981 - September 1983, A7 pilot, squadron commander, 107th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
11. September 1983 - June 1985, A7 pilot, chief of plans, 127th Tactical Fighter Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
12. June 1985 - July 1987, base commander, 110th Combat Support Squadron, Phelps-Collins Air National Guard Base, Mich.
13. January 1987 - May 1989, deputy chief, plans and programs, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. July 1987 - January 1988, deputy director, Manpower & Personnel, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. January 1988 - July 1990, director of operations, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. July 1990 - May 1998, F-16 pilot, commander, 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
17. May 1998 - October 2001, Air National Guard assistant Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 4,000
Aircraft flown: T-33, T-37, T-38, F-4, F-100, A-7 and F-16
Flight Weapons School, F-100, 1976
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Air Force Expeditionary Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Second Lieutenant Oct 21, 1966
First Lieutenant Apr 21, 1968
Captain Oct 21, 1969
Major Feb 18, 1976
Lieutenant Colonel Mar 5, 1980
Colonel Jun 19, 1986
Brigadier General Apr 8, 1992
Major General Oct 10, 1998
(Current as of March 2002)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.