BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS S. CAUTHEN
Retired July 22, 2022
Brig. Gen. Thomas S. Cauthen served as the Chief of Staff, Tennessee Air National Guard. As Chief of Staff, General Cauthen was responsible for the implementation of the Tennessee Air National Guard strategic vision and the leadership of Joint Force Headquarters air staff. General Cauthen provided strategic counsel of and management for the entire Tennessee Air National Guard, comprised of over 3,400 Airmen located at three Wings and two Geographically Separated Units across the state.
General Cauthen commissioned in 1984 through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. He has flown combat support aerial refueling missions for Desert Shield, Southern Watch, Joint Forge, Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1984 Bachelor of Science in Pre-Engineering, Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee
1988 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee
1995 Squadron Officer School (SOS), by correspondence
1999 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence
2003 Air War College, by correspondence
2019 Director of Mobility Forces (DM4), Hurlburt Field, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1985 - February 1986, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese AFB, Texas
2. February 1986 - June 1986, Student, KC-135A Copilot Combat Crew Training, Castle AFB, Calif.
3. September 1986 - June 1990, KC-135E Copilot, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
4. June 1990 - March 1993, KC-135E Aircraft Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
5. March 1993 - October 1998, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
6. November 1998 - June 2001, Operations Support Flight Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
7. June 2001 - October 2003, 151st Air Refueling Squadron Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
8. October 2003 - March 2004, Maintenance Squadron Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
9. March 2004 - November 2006, Maintenance Group Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
10. August 2006 - June 2011, Vice Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
11. July 2011 - August 2018, Commander, 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
12. August 2018 - July 2019, Director of Staff, Tennessee Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Tenn.
13. July 2019 - July 2022, Chief of Staff, Nashville, Tenn.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 5800+
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, KC-135A, KC-135E, and KC-135R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal (Air Force) with two silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hour glass
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 6, 1984
First Lieutenant Dec. 15, 1986
Captain Jan. 7, 1989
Major June 21, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel June 24, 1999
Colonel July 22, 2004
Brigadier General July 7, 2019
(Current as of September 2024)
