Retired
Brigadier General James W. Higgins is the chief of staff, Montana Air National Guard, Helena, Mont. He is responsible for the establishment of command and control policy of 1,074 Montana Air National Guard members to include the Headquarters State staff, 120th Fighter Wing, and the 219 REDHORSE Flight, ensuring both their peacetime and wartime readiness. He serves the Adjutant General of Montana as a principal advisor on all matters pertaining to the Montana Air National Guard.
The general received a direct commission in the Air National Guard in 1969 after a short tour as an enlisted member. He has served in many different staff positions and command functions prior to his recent appointment to include, command pilot, operations officer, deputy commander for maintenance, and wing commander.
1969 Bachelor of science degree in animal science, Montana State University, Bozeman
1976 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1985 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and by seminar
1988 National Security Management Course
1. November 1969 - January 1971, undergraduate pilot training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1971 - October 1978, squadron pilot, F-102 and F-106 aircraft, 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 120th Fighter Group, Great Falls,
Mont.
3. October 1978 - August 1981, flight test maintenance officer, 120th Fighter Group, Great Falls, Mont.
4. August 1981 - August 1982, acting deputy commander for maintenance, 120th Fighter Group, Great Falls,
Mont.
5. August 1982 - January 1984, squadron aircraft maintenance officer, 120th Fighter Group, Great Falls, Mont.
6. January 1984 - June 1985, operations plans officer, Headquarters, 120th Fighter Group, Great Falls, Mont.
7. June 1985 - September 1991, deputy commander for maintenance, 120th Fighter Group, Great Falls, Mont.
8. September 1991 - February 1997, group commander, 120th Fighter Group, Great Falls, Mont.
9. February 1997 - June 1998, wing commander, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
10. June 1998 - present, chief of staff, Headquarters, Montana Air National Guard, Helena, Mont.
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,000
Aircraft flown: T-33, C-130, C-131, F-102, F-106, F-16
Pilot wings from: Reese Air Force Base, Texas
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with three devices
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Training Ribbon
Montana National Guard Volunteer Campaign Ribbon
Montana National Guard Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
Montana National Guard Attendance Ribbon with eight oak leaf clusters
Montana OCONUS Ribbon with third bronze star
Air National Guard Command Excellence Award recipient, 1993.
President's Advisory Committee, College of Great Falls, Montana
Board member, Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Second Lieutenant Nov 28, 1969
First Lieutenant Mar 3, 1972
Captain Oct 4, 1974
Major Sep 21, 1979
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 1984
Colonel Dec 8, 1990
Brigadier General Jul 1, 1998
(Current as of April 2000)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.