BRIGADIER GENERAL GUY M. WALSH

Retired October 29, 2010

Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing

Brigadier General Guy M. Walsh was Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. He is responsible for providing combat airpower and operational support with theater-wide effects for Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO International Security Assistance Forces. This composite wing of 1,400 personnel conducts close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, tactical airlift and airdrop, aero medical evacuation, command and control and combat search and rescue operations throughout Afghanistan. In addition to commanding two geographically separated flying organizations at Bastion Airfield (HH-60) and Jalalabad Airfield (MQ-1), General Walsh interacted on a daily basis with the 25 joint/coalition units including the NATO Commander for Kandahar Airfield and the Afghanistan Army Air Corp Wing commander. He coordinated daily as senior air advisor to the Regional Command South Commander and NATO command staff. Periodic coordination is required with Headquarters Air Force and Air Force Major Commands on organization, training and equipping issues as they serve as the primary force providers. This is a strategic level position that influences the success of United States Central Command's mission throughout the Area of Responsibility.

General Walsh received his commission in June 1979 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing level including wing command assignments in both an active duty combat wing and a composite Air National Guard wing. General Walsh's joint assignments include United States Central Command as Chief of Air Operations. His deployments include serving as senior air advisor to the Coalition Forces Land Component Commander and the Director of Staff, Combined Air Operations Center, United States Air Force Central Command.

EDUCATION:

1979 United States Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Science, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1985 University of Southern California, Master of Science, International Relations, Los Angeles, California
1998 United States Air Force Academy, National Defense Fellowship, Institute for National Security Studies, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1999 Senior Officer Space Application Course, Space Warfare Center, Schreiver Air Force Base, Colorado
1999 Armed Forces Staff College Joint Officer's School, Norfolk, Virginia
2002 Joint Firepower Control Course for Senior Leaders, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1979 - August 1980, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
2. August 1980 - April 1981, Student, Tactical Reconnaissance Training, 33rd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
3. April 1981 - August 1982, Aircraft Commander, RF-4, 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Alconbury Royal Air Force Base, United Kingdom
4. August 1982 - April 1983, Aircraft Commander, RF-4/Wing Safety Officer, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Alconbury Royal Air Force Base, United Kingdom
5. April 1983 - June 1983, Student, Flight Safety Officer Course, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
6. June 1983 - December 1984, Flying Safety Officer, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Alconbury Royal Air Force Base, United Kingdom
7. December 1984 - March 1985, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
8. March 1984 - March 1987, Aircraft Commander, F-4/Executive Officer, 6512th Test Squadron, Edwards Air Force Base, California
9. March 1987 - May 1987, Student, Transition Training Course, A-10, 358th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
10. May 1987 - May 1988, Aircraft Commander, A-10/Chief of Training, 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Suwon Air Base, Korea
11. May 1988 - May 1989, Chief of Programming, 357th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air force Base, Arizona
12. May 1989 - January 1990, Flight Commander, A-10, 357th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air force Base, Arizona
13. January 1990 - January 1992, Assistant Operations Officer, 357th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air force Base, Arizona
14. January 1992 - May 1992, Operations Officer, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air force Base, Arizona
15. May 1992 - May 1993, Treaty Compliance Plans and Policy Officer, Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
16. May 1993 - June 1994, Student, United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
17. June 1994 - June 1996, Operations Officer, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air force Base, Arizona
18. June 1996 - June 1997, Commander, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air force Base, Arizona
19. June 1997 - July 1998, Student, National Defense Fellow, United States Air Force Institute for National Security Studies, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
20. July 1998 - April 2000, Chief, Air Operations Branch, Air Force Elements United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
21. April 2000 - June 2001, Deputy Commander, 355th Operations Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
22. June 2001 - December 2002, Commander, 1st Air Support Operations Group, Fort Lewis, Washington
23. December 2002 - June 2009, Commander, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Maryland
24. June 2009 - July 2010, Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 4,200
Aircraft flown: A-10, RF-4-C, F-4D, F-4E, YF-4E, T-38 and C-130J

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon - Short Tour
Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon - Long Tour
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

1990 United States Air Force Anthony C. Shine Top Fighter Pilot Award
1990 Air Force Association (Arizona Chapter) Pilot of the Year Award
1990 Co-editor of Spacepower for a New Millennium (McGraw-Hill)
2001 Air Force Association Gil Robb Wilson Award nominee for Arts and Literature
2001 Air Force Association Citation of Honor Recipient
2001 Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Team Excellence Award as senior military leader for Briefing Room Interactive

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 30 May 1979
First Lieutenant 30 May 1981
Captain 30 May 1983
Major 1 July 1991
Lieutenant Colonel 1 February 1995
Colonel 1 February 2001
Brigadier General 28 October 2005

(Current as of November 2010)