BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK A. MALDONADO
Retired July 15, 2022
Brig. Gen. Mark A. Maldonado was dual-hatted as the Commander, District of Columbia Air National Guard and Director, Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia National Guard. As Commander he was the principal advisor to the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard and managed over 1,200 members of the District of Columbia Air National Guard while ensuring all subordinate units maintain required readiness levels. Furthermore, the general liaised with the Director, Air National Guard, on behalf of the District of Columbia National Guard Commanding General and The Adjutant General. In his past role as the Director, Joint Staff, he was responsible for overseeing and managing the development, execution and evaluation of joint staff programs and policies pertaining to the command, control and operation of joint functions within the District of Columbia National Guard. The general was also, Chairman, Air National Guard Strategic Planning System-Atlantic Region.
General Maldonado was commissioned in 1991 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. Throughout his career, he has served in various operational and staff assignments, primarily as a KC-135 Aircraft Commander, Personnel Officer and Staff Judge Advocate. After graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1992, he served on active duty for nine years. Upon entering the Air National Guard, he deployed and flew 48 combat sorties over Afghanistan. In 2006, he joined the Judge Advocate General Corps as the Deputy State Judge Advocate, District of Columbia Air National Guard. He has deployed to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, Oman and Portugal. Additionally, he represented the Department of Defense Institute for International Legal Studies as a Counterterrorism and Counternarcotic instructor in Lima, Peru, San Salvador, El Salvador and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior to his previous position, the general was State Judge Advocate, District of Columbia National Guard.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Juris Doctor, Rutgers University, Camden, N.J.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1991 - August 1992, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. August 1992 - February 1994, Chief, Personnel Utilization and Training, McGuire AFB, N.J.
3. December 1994 - September 2000, Aircraft Commander, KC-135R/T, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
4. February 2001 - September 2006, Aircraft Commander, KC-135E and Officer in Charge of Command Post, McGuire AFB, N.J.
5. September 2006 - September 2007, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 113th Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Andrews AFB, Md.
6. September 2007 - September 2009, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Washington, D.C.
7. September 2009 - September 2011, Joint Force Headquarters Staff Judge Advocate-Air, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Washington, D.C.
8. September 2011 - September 2015, State Judge Advocate-Air, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia Air National Guard, Washington, D.C.
9. April 2017 - March 2022, Deputy Commanding General, Washington, DC
10. March 2022 - July 2022, Director, Joint Staff - (DC) Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), Washington, DC
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,500
Aircraft flown: C-141B, T-1A, KC-135R/T/E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Department of Justice Honors Program Hire
2006 First Air National Guard Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course Lowry Award Winner
2008 United States Department of Justice Counterterriosm Section Attorney of the Year
2009 and 2014 Air Combat Command Legal Office of the Year
2011 Assistant Attorney General Exceptional Service Award Winner
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1991
First Lieutenant May 29, 1993
Captain May 29, 1995
Major Oct. 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 22, 2008
Colonel May 23, 2013
Brigadier General June 4, 2019
(Current as of September 2024)
