General Officer Biography

BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN B. SOILEAU, JR.

 

Chief of Staff - Air, Louisiana National Guard

Brigadier General John B. Soileau, Jr. is the Chief of Staff, Louisiana Air National Guard. He assists The Adjutant General in formulating, developing, and coordinating programs, policies, and plans ensuring the combat readiness of an F-15 Fighter Wing and four geographically separated units. General Soileau serves as the Co Chairman of the Air Force Air Space and Range South-Southwest Region Committee.

General Soileau was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1976. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and active duty flying assignments at Wheeler Air Force Base, Hawaii and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In 1985, General Soileau joined the Louisiana National Guard as an F-15 pilot with the 159th Fighter Wing. He participated in numerous stateside and overseas deployments to include Operations Noble Eagle, Provide Comfort, Cornet Nighthawk, Southern Watch, and Northern Watch. His duty assignments included Flight Commander, Group Commander, Vice Commander, and Wing Commander. Prior to assuming his current position, General Soileau's assignments within the Joint Force Headquarters included Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff, Director of Maintenance, J-4, Commander Joint Task Force Pelican and Commander Joint Task Force Gator.

EDUCATION:

1976 University of Southwest Louisiana, Bachelor of Science, Science Education, Lafayette, Louisiana
1999 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. February 1977 - February 1978, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. February 1978 - September 1978, Forward Air Controller, 549th Tactical Air Support Training Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida
3. September 1978 - September 1981, Pilot /Air Liaison Officer, 0-2A, 122nd Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pacific Air Force Command, Wheeler Air Force Base, Hawaii
4. September 1981 - January 1982, Basic Tactical Lead, 479th Tactical Training Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
5. January 1982 - May 1982, Student, United States Air Force Operational Training Course, 405th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
6. May 1982 - February 1983, Pilot, F-15, 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tactical Air Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
7. February 1983 - December 1983, Flying Safety Officer, 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tactical Air Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
8. December 1983 - April 1985, Chief, Wing Flight Safety, 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tactical Air Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
9. April 1985 - August 1985, Pilot, F-15, 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tactical Air Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
10. August 1985 - November 1985, Executive Support Officer, 159th Tactical Fighter Group, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
11. November 1985 - September 1986, Command Post Officer, 159th Tactical Fighter Group, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
12. September 1986 - December 1988, Officer Controller, 122nd Fighter Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
13. December 1988 - January 1993, Pilot, F-15, 122nd Fighter Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
14. January 1993 - March 1994, Flight Commander, 122nd Fighter Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
15. March 1994 - April 1995, Pilot, F-15, 122nd Fighter Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
16. April 1995 - September 1995, Flight Commander, 122nd Fighter Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
17. September 1995 - August 1996, Commander, 159th Operations Support Flight, Louisiana Air National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
18. August 1996 - January 1999, Operations Group Commander, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
19. January 1999 - August 1999, Assistant Director, C4, Headquarters, Louisiana Air National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
20. August 1999 - January 2000, Director of Operations, Headquarters, Louisiana Air National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
21. January 2000 - May 2000, Vice Commander, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
22. May 2000 - June 2003, Commander, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana
23. June 2003 - August 2005, Executive Support Staff Officer, Headquarters, Louisiana Air National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana
24. August 2005 - March 2007, Director of Maintenance (J-4), Joint Force Headquarters-Louisiana, Louisiana Air National Guard, Pineville, Louisiana
25. March 2007 - Present, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Louisiana Air National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 2200
Aircraft Flown: F-15, 0-2A
Pilot Wings from: Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
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 Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass and “M” Device)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Louisiana Legion of Merit
Louisiana War Cross
Louisiana Cold War Victory Medal
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal
Louisiana General Excellence Ribbon (2nd Fleur De Lis)
Louisiana Longevity Ribbon (3rd Fleur De Lis)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 2 June 1976
First Lieutenant 2 December 1978
Captain 21 December 1980
Major 15 May 1990
Lieutenant Colonel 8 January 1995
Colonel 30 March 2000
Brigadier General 1 March 2007

 

 

(Current as of July 2009)

 

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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