BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHAEL D. HEPNER

Chief of Staff, Oklahoma Air National Guard

Brigadier General Michael D. Hepner is Chief of Staff, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Oklahoma Joint Force Headquarters. He is directly responsible to the Assistant Adjutant General and The Adjutant General for the combat readiness and operational effectiveness of all units of the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

General Hepner was commissioned in 1981 through the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennesse. He graduated from undergraduate pilot training in 1982 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. General Hepner is a Command Pilot with more than 3,700 hours of flying time. He has flown combat missions during Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch.

EDUCATION:

1995 Southern Nazarene University, Bachelor of Arts, Human Resources, Bethany, Oklahoma
2001 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1981 - June 1982, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 71st Student Squadron, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma
2. June 1982 - September 1982, Student, Lead-in Fighter Training, 479th Tactical Training Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
3. September 1982 - April 1983, Pilot, A-7D/K Operational Training Course, 162nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Tucson, Arizona
4. April 1983 - August 1987,Pilot, A-7D 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
5. August 1987 - August 1992, Instructor Pilot, A-7D, 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
6. August 1992 - August 1993, Instructor Pilot, F-16C, 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
7. August 1993 - August 1995, Training Officer/ Instructor Pilot, F-16C, 138th Operations Support Squadron, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
8. August 1995 - August 1996, Weapons & Tactics Officer/Instructor Pilot, F-16C, 138th Operations Support Flight, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
9. August 1996 - August 1998, Flight Commander/Instructor Pilot, F-16, 125th Fighter Squadron, Tulsa Air National Guard, Oklahoma
10. August 1998 - August 1999, Chief of Safety, 138th Fighter Wing, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
11. August 1999 - August 2001, Commander, 138th Support Group, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
12. August 2001 - August 2002, Commander, 138th Logistics Group, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
13. August 2002 - May 2008, Commander, 138th Maintenance Group, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
14. May 2008 - August 2012, Commander, 138th Fighter Wing, Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma
15. September 2012 - Present, Chief of Staff, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Oklahoma Joint Force Headquarters, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,700
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, A-7D/K, F-16C/D
Pilot wings from: Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with Gold Frame and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Silver 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 (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Oklahoma

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 7 May 1981
First Lieutenant 7 May 1984
Captain 8 June 1986
Major 6 July 1994
Lieutenant Colonel 6 July 1998
Colonel 27 June 2003
Brigadier General 9 December 2010

(Current as of October 2012)