Brigadier General Gregory L. Nelson
Brig. Gen. Gregory L. Nelson is the Deputy Director, Strategy, Policy, Plans, and International Affairs (NGB-J5), National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, DC. General Nelson provides direct support to the Chief, National Guard Bureau's membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and advisor to Secretary of Defense. His responsibilities include development of National Guard Bureau joint strategy, policy, and plans related to war fighting, the homeland, and global partnerships; in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commanders, and Joint Force Headquarters, States National Guard. Additionally, General Nelson leads the National Guard Bureau interagency, intergovernmental, non-governmental organizations, and public private partnership relations program.
General Nelson received his commission from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science in 1984. General Nelson served as an RF-4C weapon systems officer and C-130 instructor navigator. He has held multiple leadership and senior staff positions, most recently Commander of the 123d Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, and deployed Deputy Director of Mobility Forces, United States Central Command. General Nelson was the Director of Strategic Plans and Programs for Joint Force Headquarters, Kentucky National Guard, and the first Director of Mobility Forces for United States Northern Command and Air Force Northern Command. He commanded the 123rd Airlift Control Flight, was deputy command post chief, chief of logistics plans and chief of wing plans. General Nelson's military career spans more than thirty-nine years, including nine years of enlisted service. During his career, General Nelson participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Provide Promise, Joint Forge, Joint Guard, Coronet Oak, Phoenix Oak, Bright Star, Partnership for Peace, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Fundamental Justice, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn.
EDUCATION
1989 University of Louisville, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Louisville, Kentucky
1993 Squadron Officer School (SOS), by correspondence
1999 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence
2004 ICAF, in residence
2004 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2004 National Defense University, Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Washington, District of Columbia
2006 Department of Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authority Training, United States Army North, San Antonio, Texas
2006 Director of Mobility Forces Qualification, Air Mobility Warfare Center, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
2007 Joint Interagency Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2007 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia
2008 Senior Mobility Leaders Course, United States Air Force Expeditionary Center, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
2009 Wing Commander's Seminar, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2010 Joint Force Commander's Course, United States Northern Command, Colorado
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1984 - June 1985, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather Air Force Base, California
2. June 1985 - April 1986, Student, RF-4C, Readiness Training Unit, 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Flight, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho
3. April 1986 - February 1989, Weapons System Officer, 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
4. February 1989 - March 1989, Training Officer/Officer Controller, 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
5. March 1989 - May 1989, C-130 Navigator Conversion Training, 89th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
6. May 1989 - February 1994, C-130 Navigator, 165th Airlift Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
7. February 1994 - June 1995, Deputy Chief, Command Post, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
8. June 1995 - August 1997, Chief, Logistics Plans, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
9. August 1997 - October 2000, Chief, Wing Plans, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
10. October 2000 - August 2005, Commander, 123rd Airlift Control Flight, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
11. August 2005 - October 2008, Director, Strategic Plans and Programs / Director of Staff for Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Kentucky National Guard, Frankfort, Kentucky
12. August 2007 - October 2008, Director of Mobility Forces, United States Northern Command, Air Force Northern Command, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
13. October 2008 - September 2012, Commander, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
14. July 2010 - November 2010, Deputy Director of Mobility Forces, United States Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
15. October 2012 - October 2015, Deputy Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), National Guard Bureau
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: 2136
Aircraft Flown: C-130B/E/H, RF-4C
Pilot Wings: Mather Air Force Base, California
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)
Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf (with Gold Border and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass and 5 "M" Mobilization Devices) United States Air Force Non Commissioned Officer PME Graduate Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Star)
Air Force Training Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Kentucky Merit Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Kentucky Commendation Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Kentucky Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFLIATIONS
Air Force Association
National Defense Industrial Association
National Defense University Alumni Association
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Kentucky, President, 2007, 2008
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 18, 1984
First Lieutenant Mar. 8, 1987
Captain Mar. 10, 1989
Major Mar. 6, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 2, 2000
Colonel Aug. 1, 2005
Brigadier General Oct. 16, 2012
(Current as of April 2018)
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