BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID T. BUCKALEW

Director, Joint Staff - West Virginia National Guard

Brigadier General David T. Buckalew is Director, Joint Staff, West Virginia Joint Force Headquarters, Charleston, West Virginia. As Director, he is responsible for managing programs and operations for the Joint Staff and overseeing issues that impact the 6,000 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the West Virginia National Guard.

General Buckalew began his military career in the West Virginia Air National Guard's 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, West Virginia in December 1971. He received his undergraduate degree from West Virginia State University in 1976 and was commissioned in 1983 upon completion of the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. General Buckalew held a variety of full-time assignments at Wing level and State Headquarters. Prior to assuming his current position, General Buckalew was Chief of Staff, West Virginia National Guard.

EDUCATION:

1976 West Virginia State University, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Accounting, Institute, West Virginia
1983 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee
1999 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. December 1983 - November 1988, Logistics Plans Officer, 130th Tactical Airlift Wing, Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia
2. December 1988 - May 1993, Comptroller, 130th Resource Management Squadron, Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia
3. May 1993 - May 1998, Comptroller, 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston, West Virginia
4. May 1998 - April 2006, Executive Support Staff Officer, Headquarters, West Virginia Air National Guard, Charleston, West Virginia
5. May 2006 - April 2009, Director of Staff - Air, Headquarters, West Virginia Air National Guard, Charleston, West Virginia
6. May 2009 - April 2010, Chief of Joint Staff, West Virginia Air National Guard, Charleston, West Virginia
7. May 2010 - Present, Director, Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Charleston, West Virginia

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
West Virginia Legion of Merit
West Virginia Achievement Medal
West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon
West Virginia State Service Ribbon
West Virginia Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
West Virginia Minuteman Ribbon
West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award (with Gold Frame and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of West Virginia
National Guard Association of the United States
West Virginia National Guard Foundation

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 1 December 1983
First Lieutenant 1 December 1986
Captain 1 December 1988
Major 11 February 1993
Lieutenant Colonel 18 April 1997
Colonel 21 March 2002
Brigadier General 3 October 2011

(Current as of February 2013)