BRIGADIER GENERAL STEPHEN D. COTTER

Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Missouri National Guard

Brigadier General Stephen D. Cotter is Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Missouri National Guard. He is responsible for Strategic Planning of Air National Guard operations to ensure mission viability for Missouri Air National Guard force structure. General Cotter also assists the Adjutant General in implementation of plans and policies affecting 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 2,500 Air National Guard personnel.

General Cotter received his commission through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tennessee in 1976, followed by attendance at United States Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, Craig Air Force Base, Alabama, receiving his United States Air Force pilot wings in June of 1977. He has served on numerous military tours and deployments, supporting airlift commitments around the world that include OPERATIONS Volant Oak, Coronet Oak, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, and Enduring Freedom.

EDUCATION:

1976 Missouri Western State College, Associate of Science Degree, Saint Joseph, Missouri
1978 Missouri Western State College, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Saint Joseph, Missouri
1998 Central Missouri State University, Master of Science, Aero Science Technology, Warrensburg, Missouri
1999 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. August 1976 - May 1977, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Craig Air Force Base, Alabama
2. June 1977 - August 1981, Co-Pilot, Airlift C-130, 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
3. September 1981 - August 1983, Aircraft Commander, C-130, 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
4. September 1983 - August 1988, Command Post Pilot, 139th Tactical Airlift Group, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
5. September 1988 - August 1989, Command Post Controller/Pilot, 139th Tactical Airlift Group, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
6. September 1989 - August 1991, Aircraft Commander Examiner, 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
7. September 1991 - August 1992, Tactics Officer, 139th Airlift Group, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
10. September 1992 - August 1994, Aircraft Commander/Evaluator, C-130H, 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
11. September 1994 - December 2001, Commander, 180th Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
12. December 2001 - August 2003, Commander, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
13. August 2003 - April 2009, Commander, 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, Saint Joseph, Missouri
14. April 2009 - April 2010, Chief of Staff, Missouri Air National Guard, Missouri Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City, Missouri
15. May 2010 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Missouri National Guard, Missouri Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City, Missouri

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 7,000
Aircraft flown: C-130, T-37, T-38
Pilot wings from: Craig Air Force Base, Alabama

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with V Device and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Silver and three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 3 Bronze Service Stars)
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Air Force Longevity Service Medal (with 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass and 'M' Device)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
Missouri Conspicuous Service Medal
Missouri Commendation Ribbon (with 1 Device)
Missouri National Guard Desert Shield/Storm Service Ribbon
Missouri National Guard Recruiting and Retention Ribbon (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Missouri National Guard Emergency Duty Ribbon (with 3 Devices)
Missouri National Guard 30 Year Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Hawthorn Cluster)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

Board of Directors, Chamber of Commerce of Saint Joseph, Missouri
Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America, Pony Express Chapter, Saint Joseph, Missouri
National Guard Association of Missouri
Foundation Board Missouri Western State University, Saint Joseph, Missouri

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

2007 Saint Joseph, Missouri 'Twenty Who Count' Award

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 22 April 1976
First Lieutenant 22 October 1979
Captain 6 March 1982
Major 23 April 1987
Lieutenant Colonel 6 January 1995
Colonel 30 January 2003
Brigadier General 1 June 2009

(Current as of May 2010)