BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN D. BLEDSOE, JR.

Chief of Staff, New Mexico Air National Guard

Brigadier General John D. Bledsoe, Jr. is the Chief of Staff, New Mexico Air National Guard. He is responsible for the combined training, readiness, and performance of New Mexico Guardmembers mobilized for Air National Guard military operations. He is also responsible for developing, formulating, and coordinating all plans, processes, procedures, and policies for the Adjutant General of New Mexico relating to the New Mexico Air National Guard.

General Bledsoe started his military career as an Airman Basic in 1970 and progressed to Staff Sergeant in 1974. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the Academy of Military Science in 1977. After a tour as a traditional Guardsman Fuels Officer, he graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams Air Force Base in 1979. He was assigned to the 150th Tactical Fighter Wing flying A-7's and flew as a Pilot, Instructor Pilot, and Standardization-Evaluation Flight Evaluator in the A-7. He was selected to attend Fighter Weapons School in 1984 and in 1985 was assigned to the 162nd Tactical Fighter Training Wing as an Instructor Pilot. In 1988 he was assigned again to the 150th as an Instructor Pilot and Flight Evaluator and eventually served in a number of positions including Chief of Plans, Chief of Safety, Operations Officer, and Commander of the 188th Fighter Squadron. General Bledsoe has flown combat sorties over Bosnia, Northern and Southern Iraq and has participated in exercises and missions in Europe, Singapore, Chile, Alaska, Guam and Korea. He has flown Operation Noble Eagle sorties from Kirtland Air Force Base New Mexico, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Denver, Colorado and Riverside, California. General Bledsoe is a command pilot with over 4,500 hours of fighter time.

General Bledsoe commanded the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing and subsequently served as the New Mexico Director of Air Operations before his current appointment.

EDUCATION:

1975 University of Arizona, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture and Biology, Tucson, Arizona
1997 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. August 1977 - July 1978, Officer in Charge, Fuels Management Branch, 162nd Combat Support Squadron, Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona
2. July 1978 - July 1979, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 82nd Student Squadron, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
3. July 1979 - October 1979, Student, Lead-In Training, 479th Tactical Training Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
4. October 1979 - June 1980, Student, Air National Guard Operational Training Course, 162nd Fighter Group, Tucson, Arizona
5. June 1980 - January 1984, Pilot, A7D, 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
6. January 1984 - May 1984, Student, Air National Guard Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, 162nd Tactical Fighter Group, Tucson, Arizona
7. May 1984 - January 1986, Pilot, 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
8. January 1986 - January 1987, Fighter Weapons Instructor, 162nd Tactical Fighter Group, Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona
9. January 1987 - July 1988, Fighter Weapons Instructor, 152nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona
10. July 1988 - July 1990, Plans Officer, 150th Tactical Fighter Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
11. July 1990 - July 1991, Assistant Flight Commander, B, 188th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
12. July 1991 - October 1994, Flight Commander, B/D/E, 188th Fighter Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
13. October 1994 - October 1998, Operations Officer, 188th Fighter Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
14. October 1998 - October 1999, Safety Officer, 150th Fighter Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
15. October 1999 - October 2000, Commander, 188th Fighter Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
16. October 2000 - August 2003, Commander, 150th Operations Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
17. August 2003 - April 2005, Vice Commander, 150th Fighter Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
18. April 2005 - April 2008, Commander, 150th Fighter Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
19. May 2008 - August 2008, Director of Operations, New Mexico Air National Guard, Santa Fe, New Mexico
14. August 2008 - Present, Chief of Staff, New Mexico Air National Guard, Santa Fe, New Mexico

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4500
Aircraft flown: A-7, F-16, T-37, T-38
Pilot wings from: Williams Air Force Base, Arizona

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Silver Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 'M' Device)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Star)
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

New Mexico National Guard Association
National Guard Association of the United States

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

Co-Captain University of Arizona Football
All Western Athletic Conference Football, 2nd Team
Air National Guard Air-to-Ground Shootoff, Fangsmoke Team Leader, Winners
1991 Air Force Worldwide Shootoff, Gunsmoke Team Leader, A-7, 9th Place
1992 F-16 Transition Course, Distinguished Graduate, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
1993 Air Force Worldwide Shootoff, Gunsmoke Team Leader, F-16, 3rd Place Operations, 5th Place overall
1995 150th Fighter Wing ORI Project Officer, 'Excellent'
2007 Employer Support of Guard and Reserve 'Spirit of Volunteerism Award'
2008 Employer Support of Guard and Reserve 'Seven Seals Award'
Co-Chairman, Western Pacific Airspace and Ranges

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 4 August 1977
First Lieutenant 4 August 1980
Captain 5 March 1983
Major 6 May 1989
Lieutenant Colonel 9 May 1996
Colonel 30 March 2001
Brigadier General 16 March 2009

(Current as of July 2009)