Brigadier General Samuel W. Black
Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Black is the Chief of Staff and Air Component Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Air Component, Montgomery, Alabama. As the Air Component Commander of the Alabama Air National Guard, he is responsible for command and control of approximately 2,400 assigned personnel, equipment, and resources for the Alabama Air National Guard, which includes two flying wings (KC-135R tankers and F-16 fighters), an Intelligence Squadron, a Combat Communications Group including a Special Operations Communications Squadron,.
Following graduation from Auburn University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering, General Black entered the Air Force in 1986 through Officer Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas. Noteworthy experiences include presiding over the inactivation of the 160th Fighter Squadron and the reactivation of the 100th Fighter Squadron, which was one of the original squadrons in the famed 332nd Fighter Group, the "Tuskegee Airmen." In addition, he has deployed six times to Southwest Asia in support of operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, and IRAQI FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1986 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Auburn University Main Campus, Auburn University, Alabama
1995 Squadron Officer School (SOS), by correspondence
2002 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence
2007 Air War College (AirWC), by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1986 - November 1988, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
2. November 1988 - January 1989, F-15 Aircraft Commander, 48th Fighter Inceptor Squadron, Langley AFB, VA.
3. July 1992 - November 1995, F-16 Pilot, 160th Fighter Squadron, 187th Fighter Wing, Montgomery, AL
4. November 1995 - February 2005, Flight Commander,160th Fighter Squadron, 187 FW, Montgomery, AL
5. February 2005 - September 2007, Commander,160th Fighter Squadron, 187 FW, Montgomery, AL
6. September 2007 - December 2008, Commander, 100th Fighter Squadron, 187 FW, Montgomery, AL
7. December 2008 - December 2009, Fighter Pilot, 187th Operational Support Squadron, 187 FW, Montgomery, AL
8. December 2009 - March 2010, Weapons Tactics Instructor, 187th Operational Support Squadron, 187 FW, Montgomery, AL
9. March 2010 - October 2011, Director of Operations, Alabama Air National Guard Headquarters, Montgomery, AL
10. October 2011 - December 2014, Commander, 187th Fighter Wing, Montgomery, AL
11. December 2014 - April 2016, Director of Operations, Alabama Air National Guard Headquarters, Montgomery, AL
12. April 2016 - Present, Chief of Staff, Montgomery, Alabama
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,000 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-38, F-15A/B/C/D, F-16A/B/C/D
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
AF Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
AF Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three silver oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and two oak leaf clusters
AF Longevity Service Award with one silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ and two oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
AF Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 2, 1986
First Lieutenant Oct. 2, 1988
Captain , Oct. 2, 1990
Major Nov. 8, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 8, 2002
Colonel Mar. 8, 2010
Brigadier General Apr. 8, 2016
(Current as of June 2017)
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