MAJOR GENERAL WENDY B. WENKE
Maj. Gen. Wendy B. Wenke is the Director of Manpower and Personnel, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia. She serves as the principal advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Director of the Army National Guard, the Director of the Air National Guard, and other senior leaders. She provides overall planning, integration, analysis, and support for the CNGB’s advisory roles to the Secretary of Defense concerning all National Guard manpower, personnel readiness, future planning, continuity of operations, and sustainment matters. She is responsible for comprehensive plans and policies covering the life cycle of personnel management, which includes end strength management, education and training, and resource allocation on behalf of nearly 450,000 Soldiers and Airmen.
General Wenke was commissioned in 1987 through the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. She has commanded at the squadron, deputy group, vice wing and state levels. General Wenke is a veteran of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, NOBLE EAGLE, and ENDURING FREEDOM. In addition, she has experience in a variety of staff assignments at the wing and joint force headquarters levels, including as Assistant Adjutant General-Air for Delaware. She served as the Director of Mobility Forces during Hurricane Dorian, and her joint experience includes service as senior policy development analyst for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Support of Civil Authorities at the Pentagon. In this role she interfaced with the White House, Congress, National Security Council Staff and other Cabinet agencies, and was responsible for the development, coordination, and implementation of DOD policy on air domain homeland defense activities. Prior to her current position, General Wenke served as the Air National Guard Director of Manpower, Personnel, Recruiting and Services at the Air National Guard Readiness Center at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Business Management, University of Alaska, Anchorage
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1999 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2003 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education
2012 Air National Guard Senior Leader Maintenance Course
2013 Space Executive Course, AFSPACE, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2015 Master’s degree in Security Studies, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2018 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives (CPIE), Chapel Hill, N.C.
2018 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2018 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2019 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2019 Dual Status Commanders Course, USNORTHCOM, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2019 Regional Studies Seminar - Africa, Washington, D.C.
2019 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC); Joint Base Andrews, Md. & Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
2022 National Security Studies Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2023 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1987 - September 1988, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather AFB, Calif.
2. October 1988 - February 1989, Initial Navigator Crew Training, KC-135, Castle AFB, Calif.
3. February 1989 - February 1990, Navigator, KC-135E, Eielson AFB, Alaska
4. February 1990 - October 1991, Navigator, KC-135E, Phoenix, Ariz. (October 1990, KC-135 Navigator, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
5. November 1991 - July 1992, Inactive Ready Reserve, Denver, Colo.
6. July 1992 - July 1993, Executive Support Officer, Boise, Idaho
7. July 1993 - March 1995, Executive Support Officer, Boise, Idaho
8. March 1995 - October 1995, Executive Support Officer, Reno, Nev.
9. October 1995 - June 1996, Executive Support Officer, Boise, Idaho
10. July 1996 - October 2001, Navigator, C-130E, Boise, Idaho (July 2000 – September 2000, C-130 Navigator, Muscat, Oman)
11. October 2001 - October 2002, Chief of Wing Plans, Eielson AFB, Alaska
12. October 2002 - October 2004, Commander, Eielson AFB, Alaska
13. October 2004 - October 2005, Deputy Commander, Eielson AFB, Alaska
14. October 2005 - October 2006, Vice Chief of the Joint Staff, Ft. Richardson, Alaska
15. October 2006 - October 2007, Director of Staff, Ft. Richardson, Alaska
16. October 2007 - March 2011, Vice Chief of the Joint Staff, Ft. Richardson, Alaska
17. March 2011 - October 2014, Vice Wing Commander, Eielson AFB, Alaska
18. November 2014 - February 2018, Senior Policy Development Analyst, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
19. March 2018 - August 2018, Chief of Staff, New Castle, Del.
20. September 2018 - May 2021, Assistant Adjutant General, New Castle, Del.
21. June 2021 - November 2022, Director, Manpower, Personnel, Recruiting and Services (A-1), National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
22. November 2022 - Present, Director of Manpower and Personnel, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2014 - February 2018, Senior Policy Development Analyst, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior navigator
Flight hours: more than 1,500
Aircraft flown: C-130E, KC-135A/E/R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2016 Department of Homeland Security, Unity of Effort Award
Level III Joint Qualified Officer
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 5, 1987
First Lieutenant Nov. 5, 1989
Captain Nov. 5, 1991
Major April 5, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel June 10, 2001
Colonel April 27, 2006
Brigadier General March 1, 2018
Major General Oct. 11, 2022
(Current as of February 2025)
