Brigadier General Robert J. Becklund
Brig. Gen. Robert J. Becklund is the Chief of Staff for Air, Joint Force Headquarters, North Dakota National Guard, Fargo N.D. General Becklund provides guidance and direction necessary to ensure State and Federal missions are accomplished by assigned Air National Guard units.
General Becklund was commissioned in 1983 from the Academy of Military Science in McGhee Tyson ANG Base, Tenn. General Becklund served as Chief of Current Capabilities in support of the USAF Remotely Piloted Aircraft Task Force at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Prior to that he served as Commander, 119th Wing, Fargo, N.D. where he led the extremely successful and unprecedented conversion of the unit from its F-16 fighter aircraft mission into three entirely new areas: the MQ-1 Predator Remotely Piloted Aircraft, C-21 Operational Support Airlift and a Security Forces Squadron at Minot AFB. General Becklund following graduation from North Dakota State University, was selected for commissioning and pilot training. He flew in two USAF William Tell weapons competitions earning first place honors in 1994. His notable achievements include Distinguished Graduate honors from USAF Basic Military Training, Distinguished Graduate from ANG officer training academy and Distinguished Graduate from the USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training finishing first in his class.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo
1986 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1990 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2000 Air War College, by correspondence
2008 Joint and Combined War Fighting School, Norfolk, Va.
2016 Senior Leader Oreintation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1983 - March 1985, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams AFB, Ariz.
2. March 1985 - February 1988, F-4 Pilot, 178th Fighter Squadron, N.D. ANG, Fargo, N.D.
3. February 1988 - January 1990, Chief of Scheduling, F-4 Instructor Pilot, N.D. ANG, Fargo, N.D.
4. January 1990 - May 1992, Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, Squadron Flight Commander, F-16 Instructor Pilot, N.D. ANG, Fargo, N.D.
5. May 1992 - November 1995, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, F-16 Instructor Pilot, N.D. ANG, Fargo, N.D.
6. November 1995 - April 2000, Chief of Safety, F-16 Instructor Pilot, N.D. ANG, Fargo, N.D.
7. April 2000 - November 2003, State Director of Operations, F-16 Instructor Pilot, JFHQ, Bismarck, N.D.
8. November 2003 - August 2004, Director of Support/Operations Group Commander, F-16 Instructor Pilot, N.D. ANG, Fargo, N.D.
9. August 2004 - November 2009, Wing Commander, 119th Fighter Wing, N.D. ANG, Fargo, N.D.
10. November 2009 - April 2012, Chief of Current Capabilities, USAF Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force, HAF/A2, Pentagon, Washington, DC
11. April 2012 - Present, Chief of Staff, JFHQ, Bismarck, North Dakota
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,900
Aircraft Flown: C-21, C-26, F-4, F-16, MQ-1, T-37, T-38
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Deputy Adjutant General, North Dakota National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Bismarck, N.D.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sep. 15, 1983
First Lieutenant Sep. 17, 1985
Captain Nov. 5, 1988
Major Sep. 9, 1993
Lieutenant Colonel Jun. 12, 1998
Colonel Jul. 22, 2004
Brigadier General Nov. 30, 2015
(Current as of May 2018)
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