Brig Gen Cory J. Kestel is the Assistant Adjutant General – Air, Joe Foss Field, South Dakota. He serves as chief advisor to The Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to Air National Guard programs, policies, operations, management and command and control of the South Dakota Air National Guard. He also provides staff assistance guidance and direction concerning Air National Guard personnel, administration, training, recruiting and retention initiatives and budgetary matters.
Brig Gen Kestel enlisted in the Iowa Air National Guard in October 1996 achieving the rank of Senior Airman. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa in 2000 and soon after was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, Tenn. He completed F-16 qualification training at Luke AFB in 2002. Brig Gen Kestel joined the South Dakota Air National Guard in 2003 as an F-16 Fighter Pilot. During his career, the General has held positions at the squadron, group, and headquarters level. Brig Gen Kestel assumed the position of Assistant Adjutant General in June 2024. Prior to his current position, the General was the Director of Operations, Headquarters, Joe Foss Field, South Dakota.
Brig Gen Kestel is a command pilot with over 3,200 hours in the F-16. He has over 380 combat hours in support of operations IRAQI FREEDOM, FREEDOMS SENTINEL/RESOLUTE SUPPORT, and NOBLE EAGLE. In his civilian capacity, the General is an Airbus 319/320/321 First Officer with a major airline.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Business, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2009 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Masters of Arts, Military Operational Art and Science, Air Univeristy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2000 - August 2001, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. August 2001 - November 2001, Student Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. November 2001 - June 2002, Student Pilot, F-16 Initial Qualification Training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. June 2002 - March 2003, Fighter Pilot, F-16, 174th Fighter Squadron, Bud Day Field, Iowa
5. March 2003 - December 2006, F-16 Pilot, 175th Fighter Squadron, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (October 2006 - December 2006, Chief Scheduler, 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Balad Air Base, Iraq)
6. January 2007 - October 2007, Chief of Scheduling, 175th Fighter Squadron, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
7. October 2007 - September 2009, Instructor Pilot, 175th Fighter Squadron, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (July 2008 - September 2008, Instructor Pilot, 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
8. September 2009 - September 2013, OIC Weapons and Tactics, 114th Operations Support Flight, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (June 2013 - September 2013, Weapons Officer, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Azraq AB, Jordan)
9. September 2013 - July 2014, OIC Weapons and Tactics, 114th Operations Support Squadron, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
10. July 2014 - April 2016, Director of Operations, 175th Fighter Squadron, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (May 2015 - July 2015, Director of Operations, 175th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea)
11. May 2016 - February 2019, Fighter Squadron Commander, 175th Fighter Squadron, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (July 2018 - November 2018, Commander, 175th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
12. February 2019 - January 2022, Operations Group Commander, 114th Operations Group, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (January 2021 – March 2021, Commander, 466th Air Expeditionary Group, Savannah, Ga.)
13. January 2022 - May 2024, Director of Operations, Headquarters, South Dakota Air National Guard, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
14. June 2024 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, South Dakota Air National Guard, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two “C” devices and three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with “C” Device and oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 30, 2000
First Lieutenant June 30, 2002
Captain June 30, 2004
Major July 12, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 22, 2012
Colonel Feb. 5, 2019
Brigadier General Aug. 1, 2024
(Current as of September 2024)