MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS B. CUCCHI
Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Cucchi serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Combatant Commander, United States North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, where he advises on all policies and programs relating to the Reserve Forces. He assists the Commander to organize, equip, and operate air defense forces for North America, including the three distinct mission sets: Aerospace Warning, Aerospace Control, and Maritime Warning. Additionally, he serves as a NORAD and NORTHCOM Assessor, executing delegated duties assigned by the Commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM, in response to homeland activities.
General Cucchi received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps upon graduation in May 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was granted an educational delay and received a Master of Science in March of 1987 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. General Cucchi attended undergraduate pilot training and received his wings in June 1989 as a distinguished graduate. He participated in many military operations to include Operations DESERT STORM, PROVIDE COMFORT, NORTHERN WATCH and SOUTHERN WATCH. After separating from active duty in 1997, General Cucchi joined the Florida Air National Guard, 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville, Fla. He has held numerous positions to include flight commander, operations support flight commander, squadron commander, and operations group commander.
Prior to his current assignment, Maj Gen Cucchi was the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., where he advises on all policies and programs relating to the Air National Guard. He assists the Commander to organize, equip and operate air defense forces for the continental U.S., including the three distinct missions: homeland air defense for the continental United States, aerial support of civil authorities, and theater security cooperation for North America. Additionally, he also serves as the NORAD Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander and serves as the United States Air Force Title 10 Responsible Officer in the absence of the commander.
EDUCATION
1985 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Inst., Worcester, Mass.
1987 Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Inst., Worcester, Mass.
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2002 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
2009 Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2015 Air Force Smart Operations 21, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
2015 Joint Task Force Commanders Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2015 National Security Decision Making Course (NSDM), Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2016 CAPSTONE, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 Dual Status Commander’s Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2019 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1987 - June 1988, Project Officer, Ballistic Missile Office, Norton AFB, Calif.
2. June 1988 - June 1989, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. June 1989 - November 1989, Student, Lead-In Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
4. November 1989 - April 1990, Student, F-15 Replacement Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. April 1990 - April 1994, Instructor Pilot and Standardization Evaluation Flight Examinbr, F-15, 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg AB, Germany
6. April 1994 - July 1997, Instructor Pilot, Standardization Evaluation Flight Examiner and Flight Commander, F-15, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
7. July 1997 - December 2003, Instructor Pilot, Standardization Evaluation Flight Examiner and Flight Commander, 159th Fighter Squadron, Jacksonville, Fla.
8. December 2003 - September 2004, Commander, 125th Operations Support Flight, Jacksonville, Fla.
9. September 2004 - September 2006, Commander, 159th Fighter Squadron, Jacksonville, Fla.
10. September 2006 - December 2009, Deputy Commander, 125th Operations Group, Jacksonville, Fla.
11. December 2009 - June 2011, Division Chief, Combat Operations Division, 601st Air and Space Operations Center, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. June 2011 - November 2012, Commander, 101st Air and Space Operations Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
13. November 2012 - November 2014, Commander, 601st Air and Space Operations Center, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
14. November 2014 - February 2016, Chief of Staff, Florida Air National Guard, Saint Augustine, Fla.
15. February 2016 - October 2018, Mobilization Assistant to Director J-8, USINDOPACOM, Camp Smith, Hawaii
16. October 2018 - September 2019, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, First Air Force , Tyndall AFB, FL
17. September 2019 - Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, NORAD, Peterson AFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2016 - October 2018, Mobilization Assistant to Director J-8, USINDOPACOM, Camp Smith, Hawaii as a Brigadier General
2. September 2019 - Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, NORAD, Peterson AFB, Colo. as a Major General
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,500; 300+ combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-15A/B/C/D, T-37, T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal (Air Force) with seven oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass and "M" device
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 24, 1985
First Lieutenant May 24, 1987
Captain May 24, 1989
Major Nov. 25, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel April 20, 2002
Colonel Dec. 11, 2009
Brigadier General Nov. 1, 2014
Major General Oct. 1, 2018
(Current as of July 2020)
