Retired February 1, 2014
Chief
of Staff, Montana Air National Guard
Brigadier General Kendall S. Switzer was Chief of Staff, Montana Air National Guard, Fort Harrison, Montana. He served as primary advisor to The Adjutant General and the Commanding General, Air for all matters pertaining to the Montana Air National Guard. General Switzer's responsibilities included molding the Montana J-Staff to respond to federal or state contingencies, and to incorporate all respective elements of the Montana National Guard, Interagency functions and governmental agencies as appropriate. He also assisted The Adjutant General in administering approved National Guard policies, directives, regulations and agreements. General Switzer assisted the Assistant Adjutant General-Air with maintaining the combat readiness of the Montana Air National Guard in the event of an order to active duty for national or state emergencies. He assumed this position in December 2010.
General Switzer graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1983 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He completed Naval Flight Training and received his wings in February 1986. General Switzer flew the F/A-18 for the Marine Corps and is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). He served as an instructor at the Naval Strike Warfare Center and as a solo pilot with the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. General Switzer transferred to Montana Air National Guard, flying the F-16, in 1995. He has served as a Flight and Group Commander, Joint Staff Director and Chief of Staff. General Switzer is a command pilot with more than 4,400 hours, primarily in F/A-18 and F-16 aircraft.
1983 United States Naval Academy, Bachelor of Science, Engineering,
Annapolis, Maryland
1990 United States Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, by correspondence
2001 Air War College, by correspondence
2008 United States Army Signal Officer Training, Fort Gordon, Georgia
2008 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, by Correspondence
2009 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Northern Air Defense/United
States Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2011 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Washington, District of Columbia
2012 Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, North American Aerospace Defense
Command/United States Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1. May 1983 - September 1983, Rifle/Pistol Instructor, Marine Barracks,
Annapolis, Maryland
2. September 1983 - March 1984, Student, The Basic School, United States Marine
Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia
3. March 1984 - February 1986, Student, Marine Air Training Support Group, Naval
Air Station, Pensacola, Florida
4. February 1986 - October 1986, Student, F/A-18 Training, Naval Air Station
Cecil Field, Florida
5. October 1986 - July 1989, Pilot Training Officer/ Weapons and Tactics
Instructor/Scheduler/Embarkation Officer, VMFA-251, Marine Aircraft Group 31
Logistics Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, South Carolina
6. July 1989 - November 1990, Pilot/Instructor, F/A-18, Naval Strike Warfare
Center, Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada
7. November 1990 - February 1994, Demonstration Pilot, F/A-18, Navy Flight
Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
8. February 1994 - April 1995, Inactive Duty, United States Marine Corps
Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve Support Center, Overland Park, Kansas
9. April 1995 - April 2000, Commander, Red Flight, 186th Fighter Squadron,
Montana Air National Guard, Great Falls, Montana
10. April 2000 - April 2001, Command Post Officer, 120th Fighter Wing, Montana
Air National Guard, Great Falls, Montana
11. April 2001 - April 2002, Assistant Director of Operations, 186th Fighter
Squadron, Montana Air National Guard, Great Falls, Montana
12. April 2002 - April 2003, Operations Officer, 186th Fighter Squadron, Montana
Air National Guard, Great Falls, Montana
13. April 2003 - April 2007, Commander, 120th Maintenance Group, Montana Air
National Guard, Great Falls, Montana
14. April 2007 - July 2009, Director, J6/Chief Information Officer, Montana
Joint Force Headquarters, Montana National Guard, Fort Harrison, Montana
15. July 2009 - August 2010, Chief of Staff, Montana Air National Guard, Fort
Harrison, Montana
16. September 2010 - December 2010, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver,
Colorado
16. December 2010 - January 2014, Chief of Staff, Montana Air National Guard, Fort
Harrison, Montana
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,400 hours (59 Combat)
Aircraft flown: F/A-18 A/C, F-16 ADF/A/C, T-34C, T-2, TA-4
Pilot Wings from: Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal (with 1Gold Star)
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with Valor and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Navy Unit Commendation
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 3 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)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border)
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Bronze Hourglass, M Device, and Numeral 2)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with Bronze Star)
Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
Montana National Guard Outstanding Unit Award
Montana National Guard Campaign Ribbon
Montana National Guard Noble Eagle Ribbon
Montana National Guard Overseas Training Ribbon (with 4 Bronze Stars)
Montana National Guard Service Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Montana National Guard Attendance Ribbon (with Numeral 8)
Second Lieutenant 25 May 1983
First Lieutenant 25 May 1985
Captain 01 April 1988
Major 01 September 1994
Lieutenant Colonel 15 April 1999
Colonel 31 August 2006
Brigadier General 29 December 2010
(Current as of July 2014)