BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT F. CAYTON

Chief of Staff, Minnesota Air National Guard

Brigadier General Robert F. Cayton is the Chief of Staff, Minnesota Air National Guard, and also serves as Air Component Commander of the Minnesota Air National Guard. As the Chief of Staff, General Cayton oversees operations, activities and vision for the 133rd Airlift Wing and the 148th Fighter Wing.

General Cayton began his military career by receiving a commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 1981. Prior to joining the Air National Guard, General Cayton served as a T-37 Instructor Pilot and as a C-130 Pilot, Instructor Pilot and RTU Instructor during nearly nine years of service on active duty. General Cayton has held numerous operational positions in the 109th Airlift Squadron of the Minnesota Air National Guard to include Instructor and Evaluator Pilot, Training Officer, Chief Pilot, Operations Officer, and Squadron Commander. He has also served as the 133rd Airlift Wing Operations Group Commander and 133rd Airlift Wing Vice Wing Commander. He has accumulated over 5000 hours while flying and instructing in the T-37 and C-130. While deployed, General Cayton has served in a variety of leadership positions. He served as a Deputy Commander for Operations during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 and as a Deputy Squadron Commander and Squadron Commander while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In 2010, General Cayton served as Deputy Operations Group Commander at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

EDUCATION:

1981 United States Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science, Management, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2005 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. July 1981 - July 1982, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
2. November 1982 - November 1984, Instructor Pilot, T-37B, 35th Flight Training Squadron, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
3. November 1984 - November 1985, Academic Instructor, 64th Student Squadron, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
4. November 1985 - November 1988, Pilot, 61st Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
5. November 1988 - November 1989, Instructor Pilot, C-130E, 62nd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
6. May 1990 - January 1998, Pilot, 109th Airlift Squadron, Saint Paul, Minnesota
7. January 1998-September 2001, Chief Pilot, 109th Airlift Squadron, Saint Paul, Minnesota
8. September 2001 - January 2003, Operations Officer, 109th Airlift Squadron, Saint Paul, Minnesota
9. January 2003 - January 2005, Commander, 109th Airlift Squadron, Saint Paul, Minnesota
10. January 2005 - August 2007, Operations Group Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, Saint Paul, Minnesota
11. August 2007 - November 2008, Vice Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, Saint Paul, Minnesota
12. November 2008 - July 2010, Operations Group Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, Saint Paul, Minnesota
13. July 2010 - Present, Chief of Staff, Minnesota Air National Guard, Saint Paul, Minnesota

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 5000, More than 100 Combat Sorties
Aircraft Flown: T-37B, C-130E, C-130H3
Pilot wings from: Reese Air Force Base, Texas

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Aerial Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with Valor and 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border) and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 3)
Air Force Training Ribbon
Minnesota State Service Medal

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Minnesota
Airline Pilots Association
Board of Directors/Treasurer STARBASE Minnesota

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 27 May 1981
First Lieutenant 27 May 1983
Captain 27 May 1985
Major 01 August 1995
Lieutenant Colonel 01 November 1999
Colonel 02 August 2006
Brigadier General 29 October 2010

(Current as of June 2011)