MAJOR GENERAL MARK D. PIPER
Maj. Gen. Mark Piper is the Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. As Deputy Director, he is responsible for supporting the execution and future planning of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America to include the Canadian, Alaskan, and continental United States NORAD Regions within the bi-national command.
General Piper received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He has served in a variety of operational and staff assignments to include command at the squadron, group and wing levels; Joint Staff Liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Director, National Guard Bureau Senior Leader Management; and Director, National Guard Bureau Plans, Programs, and Requirements.
General Piper is a command pilot with more than 2,400 hours in fighter aircraft to include more than 300 combat hours in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, the general was the Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Sciences, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Dual Status Commander Course, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2018 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2019 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2020 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2022 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2023 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1995 - April 1996, Administrative Assistant, Department of Athletics, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. April 1996 - May 1997, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. May 1997 - June 1998, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. June 1998 - June 1999, Chief of Training, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. June 1999 - September 2002, Evaluator/Instructor Pilot, Chief of Standardization/Evaluation, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 389th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
6. September 2002 - September 2003, Flight Commander, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
7. September 2003 - July 2006, Chief of Scheduling, Chief of Programmed Flying Training, Assistant Operations Officer, 310th Fighter Squadron and 56th Training Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. July 2006 - July 2008, Assistant Chief of Weapons, F-16 Instructor Pilot, 121st Fighter Squadron, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
9. July 2008 - June 2010, Chief, Advanced Programs, 113th Wing, DCANG, JB Andrews, Md.
10. June 2010 - June 2012, Director of Operations, 121st Fighter Squadron, DCANG, JB Andrews, Md.
11. June 2012 - July 2013, Commander, 121st Fighter Squadron, DCANG, JB Andrews, Md.
12. July 2013 - September 2014, Chief, Combat Forces Branch, ANG Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
13. October 2014 - June 2015, Chief, Force Planning and Basing Division, ANG Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
14. June 2015 - June 2016, Commander, 113th Operations Group, DCANG, JB Andrews, Md.
15. July 2016 - July 2017, Student, National War College, Ft. Lesley McNair, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2017 - July 2019, Joint Staff Liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Operations Directorate (J35), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. August 2019 - January 2021, Commander, 192d Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
18. January 2021 - January 2023, Director, Senior Leader Management, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. January 2023 - March 2024, Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, ANG Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
20. March 2024 - June 2024, Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. July 2024 - Present, Deputy Director of Operations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2017 - July 2019, Joint Staff Liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Operations Directorate (J35), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as a colonel
2. July 2024 - Present, Deputy Director of Operations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo. as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,400 including over 300 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-22, F-16, and T-37/38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 1995
First Lieutenant May 31, 1997
Captain May 31, 1999
Major July 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 14, 2009
Colonel Oct. 21, 2014
Brigadier General Jan. 3, 2021
Major General March 15, 2024
(Current as of September 2024)