MAJOR GENERAL DARRIN E. SLATEN
Maj. Gen. Darrin Slaten serves as the Director of Strategy, Plans and International Affairs, NGB J5. He is responsible for development and implementation of National Guard Bureau strategy, policy, plans, initiatives and concepts related to war fighting; transformation; the State Partnership Program; theater security cooperation; federal and state homeland security; interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational coordination.
General Slaten entered the U.S. Army in 1987 earning his commission in 1992. He completed pilot training and then proceeded to Budingen, Germany where he was assigned as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader in the 1st Cavalry Squadron, 1st Armored Division. In 1999, he joined the Alaska Air National Guard serving in various operational and staff assignments, primarily as an HH-60 pilot. General Slaten deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM. Additionally, he served as Personnel Recovery Functional Area Manager and Chief, Aviation Operations Branch, and Department of Defense Liaison Officer to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.
EDUCATION
1992 Aviation Officer Basic Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
1992 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Southern California
1995 Aviation Maintenance Officers Course Fort Rucker, Ala.
1995 Aviation Officer Advanced Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Strategic Studies, National War College, Washington, D.C.
2016 Federal Emergency Managers Executive Academy, Emmitsburg, Md.
2019 Senior Leader Orientation Course; Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2020 Joint Military Attaché School, Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, Washington, D.C.
2020 Juris Doctorate, Loyola University, Chicago, Ill.
2020 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2021 Combined Force Air Component Commander's Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2024 CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1992 - February 1993, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2. May 1993 - February 1994, Scout Platoon Leader, E Troop, 1-1 Cavalry, Budingen, Germany
3. February 1994 - August 1994, Executive Officer, E Troop, 1-1 Cavalry, Budingen, Germany
4. August 1994 - April 1995, Assistant Logistics Officer S-4, 1-1 Cavalry, Budingen, Germany
5. April 1995 - February 1996, Aviation Officer Advanced Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
6. February 1996 - March 1997, Platoon Leader, 23rd Aviation Maintenance Company, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
7. March 1997 - April 1998, Commander, Headquarters Company, Fort Richardson, Alaska
8. April 1998 - November 1999, Aide-de-Camp, United States Army Alaska, Fort Richardson, Alaska
9. November 1999 - September 2002, Senior Controller, 11th Rescue Control Center, Fort Richardson, Alaska
10. September 2002 - October 2004, Assistant Tactics Officer, 210th Rescue Squadron, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska
11. October 2004 - June 2006, Chief, HH-60 Tactics, 210th Rescue Squadron, Kulis ANGB, Alaska
12. June 2006 - June 2007, Assistant Director of Operations, 210th Rescue Squadron, Kulis ANGB, Alaska
13. June 2007 - December 2010, Director of Operations, 210th Rescue Squadron, Kulis ANGB, Alaska
14. January 2011 - August 2011, Personnel Recovery/Special Missions Functional Area Manager and Scheduler, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
15. August 2011 - July 2013, Chief, Aviation Scheduling/Management Branch, JB Andrews, Md.
16. August 2013 - June 2014, National Defense University, Fort Leslie McNair, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2014 - July 2015, Commander, 176th Operations Group, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
18. August 2015 - July 2017, Department of Defense Liaison to Federal Emergency Management Agency, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2017 - February 2018, Principal Deputy Director of Air, Space and Info Ops, JB Andrews, Md.
20. March 2018 - December 2019, Commander, 176th Wing, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
21. January 2020 - August 2022, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Kuwait
22. August 2022 - September 2023, Vice Director, Strategy Plans and Policy, and International Affairs (J5), National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
23. September 2023 - May 2024, Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, and International Affairs (NGB J-5), Washington, DC
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2015 - July 2017, Department of Defense Liaison to Federal Emergency Management Agency, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a colonel
2. January 2020 - August 2022, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Kuwait as a brigadier general
3. August 2022 - September 2023, Vice Director, Strategy Plans and Policy, and International Affairs (J5), National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a major general
4. September 2023 - May 2024, Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, and International Affairs (NGB J-5), Washington, DC as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,550
Aircraft flown: UH-1, OH-58A, UH-60A, HH-60G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Gallant Unit Citation
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 27, 1992
First Lieutenant Jan. 27, 1994
Captain Feb. 1, 1996
Major Aug. 29, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel June 15, 2008
Colonel July 8, 2014
Brigadier General April 29, 2018
Major General Dec. 1, 2022
(Current as of June 2024)
