BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK D. AUER
Brig. Gen. Mark D. Auer is the Chief of Staff for the New Mexico Air National Guard. He formulates policy recommendations for the Assistant Adjutant General while developing and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans enabling Air National Guard personnel to respond to Federal and State missions while maintaining a constant state of readiness to protect the citizens of New Mexico in case of emergency or natural disaster.
General Auer is a distinguished graduate of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Iowa. Following his commission in May 1987, he was selected to attend Euro North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. After initial qualification training in the F-111 at Cannon, Air Force Base, New Mexico, he was assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe in 1989 and stationed at Royal Air Force, Lakenheath, United Kingdom with the 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. He deployed in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM as an F-111 Aircraft Commander.
Following deployments in support of Operation PROVIDE COMFORT, he joined the 169th Fighter Squadron, Illinois Air National Guard, in 1993 while transitioning to the F-16. Prior to his current position, General Auer was a Staff Officer and Historian for the Headquarters, Ohio Air National Guard, Columbus, Ohio. As a C-130 Aircraft Commander, he was mobilized and deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM where he served as the Crisis Action Team Executive Officer for the 486th Expeditionary Airlift Wing. He served in numerous assignments within the Illinois ANG to include: Life Support Officer, Chief of Wing Plans, Flight Commander, Command Post Chief, Mission Support Group Vice Commander and Commander of the 182nd Air Support Operations Group. He transferred to the Ohio ANG in 2013 and assumed command of the 179th Operations Group, leading their conversion from the C-27J to the C-130H2. In 2018, as Wing Commander, he successfully led the 121st Air Refueling Wing in their Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspection. Nationally he has served as the ANG TACP/ASOC Weapon System Council Chair, Vice Chair and Chair of the Air Directorate Field Advisory Council, and as a member of the ANG Strategic Planning System Steering Committee and ANG Diversity Council.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Arts degree in ancient history, University of Iowa, Iowa City
1995 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1998 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2003 Master's degree in business administration, Bradley University, Peoria, Ill.
2008 Air War College, by correspondence
2014 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1987 - March 1988, Student, Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 1988 - November 1989, Student, F-111 Pilot Qualification Course, 524th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
3. November 1989 - January 1993, F-111F Aircraft Commander, 493d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom
4. January 1993 - May 1995, F-16A Pilot, 169th Fighter Squadron, Illinois Air National Guard, Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
5. May 1995 - January 1998, C-130 Pilot, Flight Commander, 169th Airlift Squadron, IL ANG, Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
6. January 1998 - June 2004, Officer In Charge, Command Post, 182d Airlift Wing, IL ANG, Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
7. June 2004 - May 2005, Vice Commander, 182d Mission Support Group, IL ANG, Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
8. May 2005 - May 2007, Mobility Pilot, Command Post, 182d Airlift Wing, IL ANG, Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
9. June 2007 - May 2008, Air Liaison Officer, Commander, 182d Air Support Operations Group, IL ANG, Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
10. May 2008 - March 2013, Commander, 182d Air Support Operations Group, IL ANG, Greater Peoria Airport, Ill.
11. March 2013 - July 2015, Operations Group Commander, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield Lahm Airport, Ohio
12. July 2015 - January 2019, Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, Rickenbacker International Airport, Ohio
13. January 2019 - October 2019, Staff Officer, Headquarters Ohio Air National Guard, Columbus, Ohio
14. October 2019 - Present, Chief of Staff, Sante Fe, N.M.; dual-hatted, February 2020 - Present, Air National Guard Assistant to the Director of Operations, Air Mobility Command (AMC/A3), Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,100
Aircraft flown: AT-38, C-27, C-130, F-16, F-111, KC-135, T-37, T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
U.S. Air Force Longevity Service with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one “M” Device
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1987 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force ROTC, University of Iowa
1991 United States Air Forces-Europe Safety Award
1992 Package Commander, RED FLAG 92-2
2003 Outstanding Master's in business administration student, Bradley University
2006 Certificate of Merit - Teaching Excellence, Bradley University Parents' Association
2008 Service Excellence Corps Excellence Award for Superior Performance in Mentoring and Training
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 15, 1987
First Lieutenant Aug. 15, 1989
Captain Aug. 15, 1991
Major 1995 Sept. 9, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel 1999 Sept. 12, 1999
Colonel June 19, 2009
Brigadier General Oct. 2, 2019
(Current as of October 2021)
