BRIGADIER GENERAL CRAIG D. MCCORD

Chief of Staff, Missouri Air National Guard

Brigadier General Craig D. McCord is the Chief of Staff, and also serves as the Commander of the Missouri Air National Guard. He is responsible for directing Air National Guard operations and establishing policy to ensure mission readiness of an Airlift Wing, Bomb Wing, Air Operations Group, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, Air Traffic Control, and Combat Communications Squadrons and other support missions and programs affecting more than 2,700 Air National Guard personnel. He assists the Adjutant General in formulating, developing, and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans enabling Air National Guard personnel to respond to both Federal and State mission requirements. He serves on the Air National Guard's Strategic Planning System and is also designated as a Joint Task Force Commander for contingency response.

General McCord graduated with distinction from the Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tennessee in 1986. He has an operational background in Air Traffic Control and also served in personnel and employee relations positions, commanding units in both Ohio and Missouri. He served as Vice Chair of the Air National Guard Air Traffic Control Advisory Panel from 1999-2001, working to adequately resource Air National Guard air traffic control capabilities for wartime requirements. Prior to receiving his commission, General McCord served as an enlisted member in the active duty Air Force, where he trained and served as an Air Traffic Controller. He was certified as a Radar Approach Controller and performed duty at Moody Air Force Base until his honorable discharge in May 1974. He renewed his military affiliation in 1985 when he joined the Missouri Air National Guard. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Director of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Missouri, responsible for Joint Missouri Army and Air activities.

EDUCATION:

1990 Park University, Bachelor of Science, Kansas City, Missouri
2001 Air War College, by correspondence
2001 Plans, Operations and Military Support Officer and Executive Support Staff Officer Course, National Interagency Civil-Military Institute, Camp San Luis Obispo, California
2004 Reserve Component National Military Strategy Course, National Defense University, Washington, District of Columbia
2006 Joint Task Force Commanders Course, National Interagency Civil-Military Institute, Camp Dawson, West Virginia
2007 Army Force Management Course, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. April 1986 - July 1987, Air Traffic Control Management Officer, 239th Combat Communications Squadron, Bridgeton, Missouri
2. July 1987 - December 1987, Air Traffic Control Staff Officer, 251st Combat Communications Group, Springfield, Ohio
3. December 1987 - December 1989, Director, Air Traffic Control, 251st Combat Communications Group, Springfield, Ohio
4. December 1989 - December 1990, Headquarters Squadron Section Commander, 251st Combat Communications Group, Springfield, Ohio
5. December 1990 - November 1993, Squadron Commander, 251st Combat Communications Group, Springfield, Ohio
6. November 1993 - March 1998, Personnel Officer, Headquarters, Ohio Air National Guard, Columbus, Ohio
7. March 1998 - October 2002, Commander, Air Traffic Control Squadron, 241st Air Traffic Control Squadron, Saint Joseph, Missouri
8. October 2002 - November 2006, Director of Staff-Air, Joint Force Headquarters Missouri, Jefferson City, Missouri
9. November 2006 - December 2008, Director of Joint Staff, Headquarters, Joint Force Headquarters Missouri, Jefferson City, Missouri
10. December 2008 - Present, Chief of Staff, Missouri Air National Guard, Jefferson City, Missouri

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Good Conduct Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Stars)
Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Air Force Longevity Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 3 April 1986
First Lieutenant 29 April 1988
Captain 10 May 1990
Major 17 May 1994
Lieutenant Colonel 28 May 1998
Colonel 27 June 2003
Brigadier General 15 November 2006

(Current as of January 2009)