BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN C. SCHNELL
Retired effective Sep 30, 1999
Brigadier General John C. Schnell is chief of staff, Maryland Air National
Guard (MDANG). He is responsible for and to over 1,700 guardsmen and women in the state to include two flying squadrons (A-10A and C-130E), headquarters staff, 104th Weather Flight and the 235th Civil Engineering Flight.
He ensures that the MDANG is organized, equipped and trained to support the federal and state missions.
The general was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing Officer
Training School in 1968. He flew C-133 'Cargomasters' out of Travis Air Force Base until the aircraft retired in 1971.
Flying C-130's out of Ching Chang Kung Airbase in Taiwan he accumulated 600+ combat hours in South East Asia. In 1973 he commanded a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Management Engineering Team at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.
To maintain proficiency during this tour, he flew T-29s for SAC and later T-39s for Military Airlift Command.
In 1976 he returned to the 'Herc' as Officer In Charge of the C-130 Simulator at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., where he remained until he left active duty.
General Schnell is a command pilot with more than 6,000 flying hours including 600+ combat hours earned in Vietnam.
EDUCATION:
1968 Bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
1973 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1976 Masters of science degree in Systems Management, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1985 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1989 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. October 1968 - February 1970, student, undergraduate pilot training, Craig Air Force Base, Ala.
2. February 1970 - February 1972, C-133 pilot, 84th Military Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
3. February 1972 - September 1973, C-130 pilot, instructor pilot, 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Ching Chang Kung AB, Taiwan
4. September 1973 - August 1976, commander, Management Engineering Team, Beale Air Force Base, Calif.
5. August 1976 - November 1977, C-130 pilot, 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
6. November 1977 - November 1978, flight examiner, 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
7. November 1978 - July 1979, C-130 pilot, instructor pilot, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Harrisburg, Pa.
8. July 1979 - February1991, C-7 and C-130 pilot, instructor pilot, flight examiner, 135th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Md.
9. February 1991 - March 1993, operations officer, 135th Tactical Airlift Group, Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Md.
10. March 1993 - August 1994, vice commander, 135th Airlift Group, Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Md.
11. August 1994 - January 1995, chief of staff, 135th Airlift Group, Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Md.
12. January 1995 - April 1995, director of operations, Headquarters, Maryland Air National Guard, 5th Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Md.
13. May 1995 - September 1999, chief of staff, Headquarters, Maryland Air National Guard, 5th Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Md.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 6,000
Aircraft flown: T-41, T-37, T-38, T-39, T-29, C-133, C-130
Pilot wings from: Craig Air Force Base, Ala.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star
Air Force Training Ribbon
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal
State of Maryland Commendation Medal
Maryland National Guard Recruiting Medal
Maryland National Guard Overseas Service Ribbon with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Maryland National Guard State Service Medal with two bronze bottony crosses
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
Department of the Army Special Act Awards: May 89, Jun 95, Jun 96, Jan 98
Department of the Army Performance Awards: Sep 89, Aug 90, Sep 91, Nov 92, Sep 93, Sep 94, Sep 95, Oct 96, Oct 97, and Apr 98
Dale Carnegie 'Highest Award for Achievement', Jun 1995
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant Sep 24, 1968
First Lieutenant Mar 29, 1970
Captain Sep 24, 1971
Major Sep 24, 1982
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 24, 1986
Colonel Jun 5, 1993
Brigadier General Sep 25, 1996
(Current as of February 2001)
The date of publication
indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily
reflect the date of printing.
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