BRIGADIER GENERAL BARRY A. BLANCHARD
Brig. Gen. Barry A. Blanchard serves as the Chief of Staff, Mississippi Air National Guard, Joint Forces Headquarters, Jackson, Mississippi. He assists the commander and the Adjutant General in formulating, developing, and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans ensuring the mission readiness of the 172nd Airlift Wing, 186th Air Refueling Wing, and the Combat Readiness Training Center.
Brig. Gen. Blanchard was commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy in May 1992. He attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base and received his wings in August 1993. He then attended Graduate School at Texas A&M University earning a Master of Science degree in December 1994. He served eleven years active duty as a C-17A Instructor/Evaluator, Air Mobility Command and Air Education and Training Command, before joining the Mississippi Air National Guard. He currently has 15 years in the MSANG and has held command at all levels of the 172 AW. A command/evaluator pilot with more than 4400 hours in the C-17A, General Blanchard has participated in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and NEW DAWN. Prior to assuming his current position, he was the Commander, 172nd Airlift Wing, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science in Operations Research, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2001 Military Airspace Management, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
2015 Level IV Antiterrorism Executive Training, in residence
2016 Director of Mobility Forces, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2019 Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM), Peterson AFB, Co.
2019 Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
2019 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC); Joint Base Andrews, Md. & Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
2020 Middle East and South Asia Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1992 - August 1993, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. August 1993 - January 1995, Student, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
3. January 1995 - May 1996, Personnel Scientific Analyst, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. May 1996 - May 1997, C-17A Pilot, 437th Operations Support Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
5. May 1997 - February 1998, C-17A Pilot/Wing Tactics Officer, 437th Operations Support Squadron, Charleston, AFB, S.C.
6. March 1998 - February 1999, C-17A Pilot/Assistant Executive Officer, 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
7. February 1999 - March 2000, Aircraft Commander C-17A/Assistant Executive Officer, 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
8. March 2000 - November 2000, Instructor Aircraft Commander C-17A/Operations Group Executive Officer, 437th Operations Group, Charleston AFB, S.C.
9. November 2000 - February 2001, C-17A Combat Crew Training School Instructor Pilot, 97th Operations Support Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
10. February 2001 - June 2002, C-17A Combat Crew Training School Instructor Pilot/Evaluator Pilot/Assistant Flight Commander Combat Tactics, 58th Airlift Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
11. June 2002 - June 2003, Chief C-17A Examiner Pilot/Operations Group Standards and Evaluation, 97th Operations Group, Altus AFB, Okla.
12. July 2003 - January 2006, C-17A Evaluator Pilot/Initial Cadre, 183d Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
13. January 2006 - February 2008, Chief Operations Group Standardization and Evaluations, 172d Operations Group, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
14. February 2008 - September 2011, C-17A Instructor/Evaluator Aircraft Commander, Operations Officer, 183d Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
15. September 2011 - February 2012, Commander, 172d Operations Support Flight, 172d Operations Group, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
16. March 2012 - May 2014, Commander, 183d Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
17. May 2014 - May 2015, 172d Operations Group Commander, 172d Airlift Wing, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
18. May 2015 - June 2018, 172d Airlift Wing Commander, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
19. June 2018 - August 2018, Director of Operations, Mississippi Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Jackson, Miss.
20. August 2018 - Present, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Jackson, Miss.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command/evaluator Pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,400
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-38A, T-1A, C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
FedEx Express Captain flying both domestic and international routes. FedEx Express is a global provider of transportation, logistics, e-commerce and supply chain management services located in Memphis, TN.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1992
First Lieutenant May 27, 1994
Captain May 27, 1996
Major Dec. 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 8, 2006
Colonel May 29, 2014
Brigadier General Aug. 4, 2018
(Current as of August 2021)
