Brigadier General Michael J. Francis
Brig. Gen. Michael J. Francis serves as the Missouri National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General-Air. In this capacity, he advises Missouri's Governor and Adjutant General on matters pertaining to the Missouri Air National Guard and its more than 2,200 Citizen-Airmen. He is responsible to the Adjutant General for the overall management of the flying program and ensuring the units of the Missouri Air National Guard are organized, equipped and trained to support Federal and state missions.
Prior to assuming his current position, he commanded the National Guard's only B-2 unit that provides nearly 1,100 combat-ready Airmen for both state and federal missions as a classic associate wing with the 509th Bomb Wing. The Wings are responsible for delivering Precision Global Strike of both Conventional and Nuclear payloads in the world's premier strategic bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.
Brig Gen Francis entered the Air Force in 1989 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. After graduation from UPT, Brig Gen Francis served as an F-15 instructor pilot during two operational tours with the 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, VA and the 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan. Upon returning from oversees, his final active duty assignment was as an operational test pilot within the 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, FL.
In 1998, Brig Gen Francis transitioned to the Missouri Air National Guard as an F-15 instructor pilot. For the past 19 years, he has served as Flight Commander, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander, and Operations Group Commander, Vice Wing Commander, and Wing Commander.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, United States Air Force Academy, USAF Academy, Colorado
1996 Squadron Officer School (SOS)
2004 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC)
2007 Air War College (AWC), non-residence
2007 Maintenance Officers School
2009 Commanders Development Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1989 - June 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. June 1990 - September 1990, Lead in Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. September 1990 - March 1991, Student, F-15 RTU, Tyndall AFB, Fla
4. March 1991 - November 1994, 71st Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va
5. November 1994 - June 1997, 12th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
6. June 1997 - July 1998, 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla
7. July 1998 - November 2005, 110th Fighter Squadron, Lambert IAP, Mo
8. November 2005 - January 2008, Commander, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Lambert IAP, Mo
9. January 2008 - February 2009, B-2 Initial Qualification Training, Whiteman AFB, Mo
10. February 2009 - March 2010, Commander, 131st Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo
11. March 2010 - February 2013, Vice Commander, 131st Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo
12. February 2013 - May 2016, Commander, 131st Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo
13. May 2016 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Jefferson City, Missouri
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3500 hours
Aircraft Flown: B-2A, F-15 A/B/C/D, T-38, T-37
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Longevity Service with five oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star
Air Force Training Ribbon
Missouri Commendation Ribbon
Missouri NG Long Service Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 1989
First Lieutenant May 31, 1991
Captain May 31, 1993
Major May 31, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 20, 2004
Colonel Sep. 15, 2009
Brigadier General May 16, 2016
(Current as of February 2018)
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