BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES M. LEFAVOR
Retired June 01, 2016
Brig. Gen. James M. LeFavor was the Commander, Massachusetts Air National Guard. He was the principal advisor to The Adjutant General, Air Component Commander and Land Component Commander in the administration, coordination, planning, development and execution of all Air National Guard and National Guard Joint Staff programs. He ensured the preparation of the 8,200 airmen and soldiers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for contingency operations in both federal and state emergencies. He assisted The Adjutant General in overseeing the Commonwealth's Joint Homeland Defense Program, to include rapid reaction forces, contingency emergency response forces, counter drug operations, civil support teams, expeditionary medical teams and explosives ordnance disposal.
General LeFavor graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986, earning a Bachelor of Science in European History. Prior to his assignment to Commander, MA Air National Guard, he was the Wing Commander, 102d Intelligence Wing. His other 102d assignments were: Vice Wing Commander, Intelligence Group Commander, Wing Transformation Officer, 101st Fighter Squadron Commander, Fighter Director of Operations, Assistant Director of Operations, Flight Commander. Prior to his assignment to the 102d Fighter Wing, he was an Active Duty F-15C pilot with operational tours at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany, Kadena Air Base, Japan, Langley Air Force Base, VA. He also served his Alpha tour flying AT-38Bs at Holloman Air Force Base, NM. His staff assignments include Chief of Air-Air Inspections, Air Combat Command Inspector General Office, Langley Air Force Base, VA. He has served in Operations Desert Fox, Southern Watch, and Noble Eagle.
EDUCATION
1986 Bachelor of Science, European History, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1992 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1997 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
2008 Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
2013 Leadership in Homeland Security, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2017 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1986 - April 1987, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese AFB, Texas
2. April 1987 - July 1988, Lead-In Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. December 1987 - February 1988, F-15 Replacement Training Unit, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. July 1988 - August 1990, F-15 Pilot, Assistant Scheduler, Maintenance Liaison Officer, 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg AB, Federal Republic of Germany
5. August 1990 - October 1993, AT-38B Instructor Pilot, Assistant Weapons Officer, Chief of Scheduling, 435th, 433rd, 8th, and 7th Fighter Squadrons, Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation Officer, 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
6. October 1993 - August 1996, F-15 Instructor pilot, Training Officer, Weapons and Tactics officer, Flight Commander, 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
7. August 1996 - August 1998, F-15 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Assistant Operations Officer, 27th Fighter Squadron, Chief of Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va.
8. October 1998 - August 2000, F-15 Instructor Pilot, Chief of Air-Air Inspections, Air Combat Command Inspector General, Langley AFB, Va.
9. August 2000 - August 2007, Commander, 101st Fighter Squadron, F-15 Instructor Pilot, Training Officer, Flight Commander, Assistant Operations Officer, Operations Officer, Transformation Officer, 102d Fighter Wing, Otis ANGB, Mass.
10. August 2007 - August 2008, Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
11. August 2008 - October 2012, Commander, 102d Intelligence Group, 102d Intelligence Wing Senior Intelligence Officer, Distributed Common Ground Station Mission Operations Commander, Otis ANGB, Mass.
12. October 2012 - August 2013, Vice Commander, 102d Intelligence Wing, Otis ANGB, Mass.
13. August 2013 - May 2016, Commander, 102d Intelligence Wing, Otis ANG Base, Mass.
14. January 2017 - January 2020, Chief of Staff, Hanscom AFB, MA
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,200
Aircraft flown: F-15 A-D, AT38B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Overseas Medal Long Tour with bronze oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass and “M” device
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1986
First Lieutenant May 28, 1988
Captain May 28, 1991
Major Feb. 1, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 2, 2002
Colonel Dec. 10, 2008
Brigadier General Jan. 18, 2017
(Current as of August 2020)
