BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHELE K. LAMONTAGNE
Retired
Brig. Gen. Michele LaMontagne was the Assistant Adjutant General - Air, New Mexico Air National Guard. As a senior military advisor to the Governor and Adjutant General, she advised on all matters pertaining to the New Mexico Air National Guard. She was responsible for planning and executing the mission, organizing, training, and deploying New Mexico Air National Guard units during contingency and domestic operations in federal and state emergencies. General LaMontagne was commissioned in 1992 upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy, and earned her Master’s degree just two years later. In 2001, after serving 9 years with the United States Air Force as a maintenance officer, she joined the 150 Fighter Wing, New Mexico Air National Guard at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
General LaMontagne was the Chief of Staff for the New Mexico Air National Guard whose mission included providing unsurpassed training to Special Operations aircrews for state and federal missions as well as maintaining a constant state of readiness to protect the citizens of New Mexico in cases of emergency or natural disaster.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Human Factors Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Master of Science, Human Resource Management, Troy State University, Ala.
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives, San Antonio, Texas
2018 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md. & Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
2019 Dual Status Commanders Course, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Colo.
2019 Joint Task Force Commanders Course, NORTHCOM, Colo.
2019 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1992 - September 1993, Assistant Officer-in-Charge of Sortie Production, 19th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
2. September 1993 - September 1994, Accessory Flight Commander, 20th Component Repair Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. October 1994 - April 1995, Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, 20th Logistics Support Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. May 1995 - May 1996, Officer-in-Charge of Munitions Flight, 8th Maintenance Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. May 1996 - February 1997, Officer-in-Charge of Sortie Generation Flight, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
6. February 1997 - February 1998, Officer-in-Charge of Aircraft Parts Stores, 99th Supply Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. February 1998 - February 1999, Fuels Management Flight Commander, 99th Supply Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. February 1999 - July 2000, Maintenance Supervisor, 57th Component Repair Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. July 2000 - April 2001, Maintenance Officer, 302d Maintenance Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
10. May 2001 - May 2002, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, 150th Maintenance Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
11. May 2002 - May 2003, Commander, 150th Logistics Support Flight, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
12. May 2003 - September 2007, Commander, 150th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
13. September 2007 - September 2009, Commander, 150th Maintenance Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
14. September 2009 - January 2012, Wing Inspector General, 150th Fighter Wing, New Mexico Air National Guard, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
15. January 2012 - November 2012, Director of Staff- Air, Joint Force Headquarters, New Mexico Air National Guard, Santa Fe, N.M.
16. November 2012 - November 2014, Director of Support, Joint Force Headquarters, New Mexico Air National Guard, Santa Fe, N.M.
17. November 2014 - November 2016, Commander, 150th Maintenance Group, 150th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
18. November 2016 - October 2019, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, New Mexico Air National Guard, Sante Fe, N.M.
19. October 2019 - October 2023, Assistant Adjutant General, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Brig. Gen. LaMontagne is an Executive Coach and Co-Owner of Turning Wheel Coaching LLC. She provides Individual and Team Coaching and Mentoring, develops and delivers Individual and Team Development Training, and provides other Business Services. Prior to this position, she was the Director of Training and Development, Director of Human Resources, and Director of Operations at Rio Grande, a Berkshire Hathaway Company for 18 years.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1992
First Lieutenant May 27, 1994
Captain May 27, 1996
Major Feb. 3, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 5, 2006
Colonel Sept. 3, 2014
Brigadier General Dec. 2, 2017
(Current as of September 2024)
