Brigadier General James F. Dawson Jr., is the chief of staff for the Puerto Rico Air National Guard located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In this capacity he directs and controls the operational readiness of the 156th Airlift Wing, the 140th Air Defense Squadron and the 141st Air Control Squadron. He coordinates staff activities pertaining to personnel, administration, operations, intelligence, material, comptroller, planning, and programming to ensure accomplishment of unit mission. The General insures compliance of National Guard Bureau and applicable United Sates Air Force policies and directives. He develops guidance for joint services exercises and performs supervisory functions for over 1300 officers and enlisted personnel.
General Dawson was born in the District of Columbia and graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1977 receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant through Air Force ROTC. He attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams Air Force Base, AZ and received his pilot wings in 1979. He served as a T-37 instructor pilot at Undergraduate Pilot Training in Arizona and at the Pilot Instructor Training Center at Randolph Air Force Base, TX. Following his tour of duty as an instructor pilot, he completed F-16 RTU at Luke Air Force Base, AZ in 1984 and was assigned to the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Torrejon Air Base, Spain. He left active duty in 1987 and joined the Air Force Reserves. In 1990 he became a member of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. Positions held while serving with the Puerto Rico Air National Guard have included commander of the 198th Fighter Squadron, vice commander of the 156th Airlift Wing, and director of operations for Headquarters, Puerto Rico Air National Guard. He is a Command Pilot with over 3000 flying hours.
1977 Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, University of New Orleans
1978 Squadron Officers School, by correspondence
1981 Masters of Science in Business Administration, University of Northern Colorado
1985 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1997 Air War College, by correspondence
1. Feb 78 - Jan 79, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 96th FTS, Williams Air Force Base, AZ
2. Jan 79 - Apr 79, student, T-37 Pilot Upgrade, 96th FTS, Williams Air Force Base, AZ
3. Apr 79 - Jul 79, student, T-37 Pilot Instructor Training Course, 559th FTS, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
4. Jul 79 - Jun 81, T-37 instructor pilot, 96th FTS, Williams Air Force Base, AZ
5. Jun 81 - Dec 79, T-37 instructor pilot, 559th FTS, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
6. Dec 79 - Feb 84, T-37 check pilot, Asst Chief Check Section, 559th FTS, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
7. Feb 84 - Apr 84, student, Fighter Lead-In Training, 433rd TFTS, Holloman Air Force Base, NM
8. Apr 84 - Nov 84, student: F-16 Fighter Pilot Course, 310th TFTS, Luke Air Force Base, AZ
9. Nov 84 - Dec 86, F-16 fighter pilot, 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
10. Dec 86 - Mar 87, chief Squadron Current Operations, 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
11. Mar 87 - Oct 87, chief Combat Exercise Plans Branch, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
12. Oct 87 - Jan 90, Nonaffiliated Section RPC CM Reserve ARPC, Denver, CO
13. Jan 90 - Aug 90, student, A-7 Fighter Pilot School, 198th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Muniz Air National Guard Base, San Juan, PR
14. Aug 90 - Jul 92, A-7 instructor pilot, 198th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Muniz Air National Guard Base, San Juan, PR
15. Jul 92 - Sep 92, student, F-16 Fighter Pilot School, 162nd Student Squadron, Tucson, AZ
16. Sep 92 - Apr 96, F-16 instructor pilot, 198th FS, Muniz Air National Guard Base, San Juan, PR
17. Apr 96 - Sep 98, squadron commander, 198th FS, Muniz Air National Guard Base, San Juan, PR
18. Sep 98 - Jun 99, wing executive officer, 156th AW, Muniz Air National Guard Base, San Juan, PR
19. Jun 99 - Apr 00, vice wing commander, 156th AW, Muniz Air National Guard Base, San Juan, PR
20. Apr 00 - Sep 03, director of operations, Headquarters Puerto Rico Air National Guard, San Juan, PR
21. Sep 03 - Present, chief of staff, Headquarters Puerto Rico Air National Guard, San Juan, PR
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: Over 3,000 hrs
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, A-7D, F-16A
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
AF Longevity Service with one silver oak leave cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one gold hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Commercial Airline Pilot
Second Lieutenant 01 June 1977
First Lieutenant 13 November 1979
Captain 13 November 1981
Major 13 May 1991
Lieutenant Colonel 19 August 1995
Colonel 21 March 2002
Brigadier General 29 July 2005
(Current as of February 2007)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.