Brigadier General Robert D. Ireton is the chief of staff, Oklahoma Air National Guard also serving as the commander, Oklahoma Air National Guard. He is directly responsible to the adjutant general of Oklahoma regarding combat readiness and operational effectiveness of more than 2400 guard members in 36 units that serve our communities, state and nation for both homeland defense and federal missions.
General Ireton was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1972 and graduated from undergraduate pilot training (UPT) in 1973. He was assigned to the Air Defense Command at McChord Air Force Base flying the F-106 and then to Sheppard Air Force Base where he instructed German and American pilots in the T-38. Upon separation from the active duty, he joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard in September 1980. He has served in numerous assignments in flying and operations, as well as command positions at group and wing level. General Ireton is a command pilot with over 5000 hours of flying time in the T-37, T-38, T-33, F-106, A-7D, and F-16C aircraft. He has flown F-16 combat missions during Operation Provide Comfort and Operation Northern Watch.
1971 Bachelor of Administration, Central State University, Edmond, OK
1979 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1986 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1998 Air War College, by correspondence
2005 Senior Leader Depot Course
2005 Black Sea Security Program, Harvard JFK School of Government
2005 CAPSTONE, National Defense University
1. January 1972 - June 1973, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training,
3576th Student Squadron, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. June 1973 - February 1974, student, Operational Training Course F-106,
2nd FITS, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
3. February 1974 - April 1976, pilot, F-106, 318th Fighter Intercept
Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
4. April 1976 - September 1980, instructor pilot, T-38, 80th FTW, Sheppard
Air Force Base, Tex.
5. September 1980 - December 1988, Pilot, A-7, 125th Tactical Fighter
Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
6. December 1988 - March 1990, assistant operations officer, 125th Tactical
Fighter Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
7. March 1990 - July 1991, pilot, A-7, 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron,
Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
8. July 1991 - March 1994, director of squadron operations, 125th Tactical
Fighter Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
9. March 1994 - June 1995, commander, 138th Operations Support Flight,
Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
10. June 1995 - March 1998, chief of safety, 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma
Air National Guard, Okla.
11. March 1998 - December 1998, logistics group commander, 138th Fighter
Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
12. December 1998 - December 2001, vice commander, 138th Fighter Wing,
Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
13. December 2001 - January 2004, commander, 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma
Air National Guard, Okla.
14. January 2004 - September 2005, chief of staff, Joint Force Headquarters,
Oklahoma Air National Guard, Okla.
15. September 2005 - Present, chief of staff, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Oklahoma Air National Guard, OK
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 5,000
Aircraft Flown: T-33, T-37, T-38, F-106, A-7D, and F-16C
Pilot Wings from: Vance Air Force Base, OK
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with 1 device
Aerial Achievement Medal with 1 device
Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 device
Air Force Achievement Medal with 3 devices
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 1 device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 1 device
Combat Readiness Medal with 7 devices
National Defense Service Medal with 1 device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Services Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 6 devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Vice President Air Force Association Tulsa Chapter
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Oklahoma
Member American Legion Post 141, Claremore Oklahoma
2d Lt 12 January 1972
1st Lt 12 January 1974
Capt 12 January 1976
Maj 12 January 1986
Lt Col 01 August 1992
Col 30 July 1999
Brig Gen 12 April 2004
(Current as of May 2007)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.