BRIGADIER GENERAL RICHARD N. HARRIS, JR.

Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Vermont National Guard

Brigadier General Richard N. Harris, Jr. is currently serving as Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Vermont National Guard. In this capacity, he serves as chief advisor to the Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to Air National Guard programs, policies, operations, management and command of the Vermont Air National Guard. He provides staff assistance guidance and direction concerning Air National Guard personnel, administration, training, recruiting and retention incentives and budgetary matters. General Harris also serves as a National Co-Chairman for the United States Air Force's Airspace and Range Council and as the Air National Guard's Northeast Region Chairman for the Strategic Planning System.

General Harris earned his commission by attending the Academy of Military Science in May 1988. After attending Undergraduate Pilot Training and F-16 Training, General Harris was assigned to his home unit in Vermont. He has served as Flight Examiner, Instructor Pilot, Weapons and Tactics Officer, Flight Commander and Chief of Weapons as well as Commander, 158th Operational Support Flight and 134th Fighter Squadron. He has supported missions of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Harris is a command pilot with over 2600 hours in the F-16.

EDUCATION:

1983 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical and Ocean Engineering, Blacksburg, Virginia
2005 Air War College, by correspondence
2007 Harvard School of Government, National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2009 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
2011 Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
2011 Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21), Knoxville, Tennessee

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1988 - August 1989, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma
2. September 1989 - November 1989, Student, Lead-in Fighter Training, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
3. November 1989 - July 1990, Pilot, F-16 Reserve Training Unit, Kingsley Field, Oregon
4. July 1990 - July 1992, Pilot, F-16, 134th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
5. July 1992 - July 1995, Pilot, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
6. July 1995 - July 1998, Weapons and Tactics Officer, 158th Operations Support Flight, Burlington, Vermont
7. July 1998 - July 2000, Flight Commander, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
8. July 2000 - July 2001, Weapons Officer, 158th Operations Support Flight, Burlington, Vermont
9. July 2001 - July 2002, Commander, 158th Operations Support Flight, Burlington, Vermont
10. July 2002 - July 2004, Commander, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
11. July 2004 - July 2005, Pilot, F-16, 134th Fighter Squadron, Burlington, Vermont
12. July 2005 - October 2010, Director of Support, Vermont Air National Guard, Camp Johnson, Vermont
13. October 2010 - September 2011, Chief of Staff, Vermont Air National Guard, Camp Johnson, Vermont
14. September 2011 - February 2013, Director, Joint Staff, Vermont National Guard, Camp Johnson, Vermont
15. March 2013 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Vermont National guard, Camp Johnson, Vermont

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2900
Aircraft flown: F-16, C-26, T-37, T-38
Pilot Wings Earned: Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma

AWARD AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Aerial Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Longevity Service (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, M Device, and Numeral 2)
Air Force Training Ribbon
Vermont Meritorious Service Ribbon
Vermont Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Star)
Vermont Duty Ribbon (3 Bronze Stars)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 19 May 1988
First Lieutenant 11 August 1990
Captain 10 January 1993
Major 7 June 1997
Lieutenant Colonel 28 September 2001
Colonel 27 April 2006
Brigadier General 5 November 2010

(Current as of April 2013)