Retired May 3, 2014
Director
of Joint Staff, Ohio National Guard
Brigadier General Mark L. Stephens was the Director of Joint Staff, Ohio National Guard. As Director of Joint Staff, he was responsible for developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans in joint matters that affect Ohio's 17,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel. He was also responsible for the integration and coordination of National Guard capabilities in support of Homeland Defense and Defense to Civil Authorities.
General Stephens received his commission in 1980 from the Academy of Military Science at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. He has served in numerous command positions within the Ohio Air National Guard to include Wing Commander, 179th Airlift Wing and Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing.
1980 Cleveland State University, Bachelor of Business Administration,
Marketing, Cleveland, Ohio
2000 Air War College, by correspondence
2011 Joint Task Force Commander's
Course, United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
2012 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 6,000
Aircraft flown: C-130, KC-135
Pilot wings from: Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
1. January 1981 - November 1981, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training,
Williams Air Force Base, Arizona
2. December 1981 - April 1982, Student, C130 Pilot Qualification Training,
Little Rock Air Force Base, Arizona
3. April 1982 - March 1987, Pilot, C-130B, 164th Tactical Airlift Squadron,
Mansfield, Ohio
4. March 1987 - March 1993, Operations Supervisor, 164th Operations Group,
Mansfield, Ohio
5. March 1993 - August 1995, Standards and Evaluation Pilot, 164th Operations
Group, Mansfield, Ohio
6. August 1995 - February 1997, Chief, Flying Hour Management, 179th Operations
Support Squadron, Mansfield, Ohio
7. February 1997 - June 1998, Chief, Current Operations, 179th Operations
Support Squadron, Mansfield, Ohio
8 . June 1998 - March 2000, Commander, 179th Operations Support Flight,
Mansfield, Ohio
9. March 2000 - December 2003, Vice Commander, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield,
Ohio
10. December 2003 - April 2010, Commander, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
11. May 2010 - September 2012, Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Columbus,
Ohio
12. October 2012 - May 2014, Director of Joint Staff, Ohio National
Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Columbus, Ohio
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with Gold Frame)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Services Medal (with 1 Bronze Star Device)
Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Air Force Longevity Service (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, M Devices and Numeral 2)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Ohio Distinguished Service Medal
Ohio Faithful Service Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Ohio Special Service Ribbon
1980 Distinguished Graduate, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science
1985 Federal Aviation Administration Academy, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Second Lieutenant 18 September 1980
First Lieutenant 18 September 1983
Captain 18 September 1987
Major 14 November 1992
Lieutenant Colonel 22 January 1997
Colonel 30 March 2001
Brigadier General 19 May 2011
(Current as of July 2014)