BRIGADIER GENERAL GREGORY W. LAIR
Brig. Gen. is the Assistant Adjutant General of South Dakota Air National Guard.
General Lair joined the Air National Guard in 1983 as an A-7D avionics technician. He earned his commission through Academy of Military Science and then completed pilot training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. In his civilian capacity, the Colonel is a Boeing 777 pilot with a major airline. General Lair is a command pilot with over 3,400 military flying hours. He has over 262 combat hours flying 71 missions in support of Operation Provide Comfort II, Southern & Northern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Noble Eagle. Previously, he held positions at the flight, squadron and group level, and served two tours as the Air National Guard Readiness Center Aerospace Control Alert Officer.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science & Technology, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
1998 Squadron Officer School (SOS), by correspondence
2003 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence
2009 Air War College, by correspondence
2019 Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
2019 Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1990 - September 1990, Pilot Trainee, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
2. September 1990 - October 1991, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. November 1991 - December 1991, Student Pilot, Lead-In Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
4. January 1992 - September 1992, Student Pilot, F-16C Training, Mac Dill AFB, Fla.
5. September 1992 - October 1994, Pilot, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (November 1993 – January 1994, Pilot, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey)
6. October 1994 - October 1995, Current Operations Officer, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
7. October 1995 - May 1997, Chief Current Operations, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (January 1996 – Feb 1996, Pilot, Incirlik AB, Turkey)
8. May 1997 - December 1998, OIC Weapons and Tactics, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (February 1998 – March 1998, Pilot, Al Jaber AFB, Kuwait)
9. December 1998 - January 2000, OIC Current Operations, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
10. January 2000 - July 2000, Pilot, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (April 2000 – May 2000, Pilot, Curacao International Airport, Curacao)
11. July 2000 - July 2010, Assistant C Flight Commander, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (November 2002 – December 2002, Pilot, Netvam Air Base, Israel), (October 2006 – December 2006, Pilot, Balad Air Base, Iraq), (July 2008 – September 2008, Pilot, Balad Air Base)
12. July 2010 - December 2010, B Flight Commander, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
13. December 2010 - April 2012, Operations Support Flight Commander, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
14. April 2012 - September 2014, Fighter Squadron Commander, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (June 2013 – September 2013, Commander, Azraq Air Base, Jordan)
15. September 2014 - April 2016, Operations Group Commander, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
16. May 2016 - December 2017, Wing Vice Commander, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (August 2016 – September 2016, Commander, Łask Air Base, Poland)
17. December 2017 - April 2019, Director of Operations, Headquarters, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
18. February 2020 - December 2020, Chief of Staff, Sioux Falls, SD
19. January 2021 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38B, F-16
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with gold border
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service with seven oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three ‘M’ devices
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air Force Training Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
South Dakota Distinguished Service Award
South Dakota Emergency Operations Ribbon
South Dakota National Guard Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
South Dakota Desert Storm Ribbon
South Dakota Distinguished Unit Award with gold border and oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 15, 1990
First Lieutenant Jan. 9, 1993
Captain Feb. 4, 1995
Major Feb. 6, 1999
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 6, 2006
Colonel Oct. 1, 2014
Brigadier General Feb. 26, 2020
(Current as of November 2021)
