BRIGADIER GENERAL BUEL J. DICKSON
Brig Gen Buel J. Dickson is Assistant Adjutant General – Air, Montana National Guard, Fort Harrison, Montana and also serves as Commander of the Montana Air National Guard. He is responsible for the leadership, professional development, and senior-level management of the 1,000 personnel assigned to the 120th Airlift Wing, the 219th REDHORSE Squadron, and the Montana Air National Guard Joint Force Headquarters. General Dickson is the Senior Air National Guard Officer in Montana and serves as the principal advisor to both the Governor and the Adjutant General of Montana on matters pertaining to the Montana Air National Guard. As Commander, he is responsible for providing mission-ready forces to support national defense requirements worldwide, and emergency response, relief, and recovery operations throughout Montana. General Dickson also holds the positions of the Director’s Advisory Council-Executive Board Responsive Process Chair and the state Cyber Program Manager.
General Dickson has commanded the 186th Air Squadron, 120th Operations Group, 120th Maintenance Group and the 120th Airlift Wing. He has also served as Chief of Scheduling, Chief of Standardizations, Director of Operations, Airspace Manager, 120th Exercise Evaluation Team Chief, Wing Chief of Safety and the Director of Operations A-3 for the Montana Air National Guard stationed at Joint Force Headquarters Helena, Montana. General Dickson was a command pilot with over 3,500 hours and has served two combat tours in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH AND IRAQI FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, the general was the Wing Commander, 120th Airlift Wing, Great Falls, Montana.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, University of Montana, Missoula
1991 Fighter Lead-In Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
1991 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
1992 F16 Basic Training, Klamath Falls, Ore.
1995 F-16C Air to Ground Conversion Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
1996 Life Support Officer School, Texas
1997 F16 Instructor Pilot Upgrade Course, Klamath Falls, Ore.
1998 Night Vision Goggle Academic Instructor Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
1999 Arctic Survival Course, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
2000 Squadron Officer’s School, Knoxville, Tenn.
2001 F-16C Air to Ground Conversion Course, Springfield, Ohio
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Commanders Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2016 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2016 Senior Leader Mission Generation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla., by virtual
2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2022 Joint Air Component Coordination Element Course – Nellis AFB, Nev.
2022 Regional Seminar - Eurasia, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2024 National Security Studies Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1990 - September 1991, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. September 1991 - November 1991, Fighter Lead-In Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. November 1991 - April 1992, Pilot Trainee, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
4. April 1992 - December 1995, F-16 Alert Pilot, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
5. December 1995 - October 1998, Chief of Scheduling, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
6. October 1998 - September 2003, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, Flight Examiner, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
7. October 2003 - November 2004, Operations Support Flight Commander, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
8. November 2004 - January 2009, Chief of Safety, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
9. August 2008 - October 2013, Chief of Airspace and EET Team Chief, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
10. January 2009 - August 2011, F-15 Fighter Pilot, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
11. September 2011 - October 2013, Deputy Director, J3 Operations, Joint Force Headquarters, Fort Harrison, Mont.
12. October 2013 - February 2014, Commander, 186th Squadron, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
13. February 2014 - August 2014, Commander, 120th Operations Group, 120th Airlift Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
14. August 2014 - June 2017, Commander, 120th Maintenance Group, 120th Airlift Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
15. June 2017 - June 2020, Commander, 120th Airlift Wing, Great Falls, Mont.
16. June 2020 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Joint Force Headquarters, Fort Harrison, Mont.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16 ADF, F-16C, F-15C, C-130E/H1/H2
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction
1992 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, F-16 Course
UPT T-37, T-38 Top Formation Pilot
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 5, 1990
First Lieutenant April 12, 1992
Captain April 12, 1994
Major Nov. 7, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2003
Colonel July 27, 2015
Brigadier General June 13, 2020
(Current as of January 2025)
