BRIGADIER GENERAL ADRIA P. ZUCCARO
Brig. Gen. Adria P. Zuccaro is the Chief of Staff-Air with the Wisconsin Air National Guard. In this role she serves as the senior ranking officer for the Headquarters Air Staff and principal advisor to the deputy adjutant general for Air regarding administration, operation, training, tactical employment, maintenance and supply of the 115th Fighter Wing in Madison, Wisconsin, the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, and the 128th Air Control Squadron based at Volk Field.
Brig. Gen. Zuccaro earned her commission from the Academy of Military Science at McGee Tyson ANGB, Tenn. in 1997. She completed undergraduate pilot training at Columbus AFB, Miss., then served 12 years in the Alaska ANG in a variety of key positions. In 2008 she joined the Florida Air National Guard, where she served as the Air Refueling Control Team Chief and Deputy Air Mobility Division Chief for the 601st Air and Space Operations Center then as Executive Officer to the Commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. She transitioned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 2015. She is an accomplished commander having served as the 128th Air Refueling Wing Commander, Operations Group Commander, Operations Support Squadron Commander; and 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron Commander. In 2019 she was the National Guard’s SECDEF Corporate Fellow, embedded with the Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) as their Director of Fleet. Brig. Gen. Zuccaro is a Command Pilot with over 3,000 flying hours, primarily in the KC-135R Stratotanker. She has deployed in support of Operations; NORTHERN WATCH; IRAQI FREEDOM; ENDURING FREEDOM; INHERENT RESOLVE; and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. Prior to her current position, Brig. Gen. Zuccaro was the Director Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Force Headquarters, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Madison, Wisconsin.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science, Human Resource Management, University of Arizona, Tucson
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. by correspondence
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2011 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course, Department of Defense, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2012 Masters in Military Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Leadership in Homeland Security, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2015 Director of Mobility Forces, USAF Expeditionary Center Det 1, Hurlburt AFB, Fla.
2018 Advanced Nuclear Concepts, Air Force Nuclear College, Kirkland AFB, N.M.
2018 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2019 Corporate America Concepts & Issues, Darden Graduate School of Business, Charlottesville, Va.
2019 Secretary of Defense Executive Fellowship, WEC Energy Corp, Milwaukee, Wis.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1996 - December 1996, Enhanced Flight Screening, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. September 1997 - September 1998, Student Pilot, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. October 1998 - January 1999, Initial KC-135 Qualification, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB, Okla.
4. January 1999 - November 2008, Co-Pilot / Aircraft Commander, 168th Air Refueling Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
5. February 2005 - October 2007, Chief of Scheduling, 168th Air Refueling Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
6. October 2007 - November 2008, Wing Plans Officer, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska
7. November 2008 - July 2009, Tanker Airlift Duty Officer, 101st Air Operations Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
8. July 2009 - May 2014, Air Refueling Control Team Chief, 101st Air Operations Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
9. August 2010 - August 2013, Attached to fly, 106th Air Refueling Squadron, Birmingham ANGB, Ala.
10. May 2014 - October 2014, Air Mobility Division Deputy, 601st Air & Space Operations Center, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
11. October 2014 - October 2015, Executive Officer to the Commander, Continental North American Aerospace Defense Region (First Air Force - Air Forces Northern), Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. October 2015 - June 2017, Operations Support Squadron Commander, 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wis.
13. June 2017 - August 2020, Operations Group Commander, 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wis.
14. December 2017 - March 2018, Squadron Commander, 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
15. August 2020 - February 2024, Air Refueling Wing Commander, 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wis.
16. February 2024 - June 2024, Director Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Force Headquarters, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Madison, Wis.
17. August 2024 - Present, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Madison, Wis.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,000
Aircraft flown: T-3A, T-37, T-1 and KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 Deputy Commander US Continental NORAD Region Award of Excellence
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 27, 1997
First Lieutenant Feb. 27, 1999
Captain March 3, 2001
Major Aug. 16, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 24, 2012
Colonel June 3, 2017
Brigadier General Aug. 21, 2024
(Current as of October 2025)
