BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT E. HARGENS
Brig. Gen. Robert E. Hargens is the Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Nebraska National Guard and the Commander, Nebraska Air National Guard. He is responsible for the combat readiness and operational effectiveness of all Nebraska Air National Guard units, and he also serves as the principal advisor to the Adjutant General on all matters concerning operations, training, equipment and personnel to ensure a mission-ready force to support national defense requirements and emergency response, relief and recovery operations.
General Hargens joined the United States Marine Corps in 1987 and was commissioned in 1990 through the Platoon Leaders Course program. After receiving designation as a Naval Aviator, he was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force and deployed multiple times as an AH-1 pilot. General Hargens transitioned to the Nebraska Air National Guard in 1999 as a KC-135 pilot, and he has had the privilege of commanding at the flight, squadron, group and wing level. He has deployed in support of Operations JOINT FORGE, NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as a number of other contingency, humanitarian and domestic operations. Prior to his current position, he was the Commander, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Nebraska.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, Construction Management, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
1996 Warfighting Skills Program, by correspondence
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Combat Aircrew Tactics School, Joint Base (JB) McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2005 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2009 Master of Science, Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
2010 Reserve Forces Air Base Combat Engineering Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Offutt AFB, Neb.
2013 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., by correspondence
2013 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2015 Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2018 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2023 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Senior Leader Orientation Course, JB Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1991 - October 1991, The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
2. October 1991 - May 1993, Naval Aviator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
3. May 1993 - February 1994, AH-1W Qualification Training, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
4. February 1994 - April 1997, Instructor Pilot, Helicopter Marine Light Attack Squadron 367, Camp Pendleton, California and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa
5. April 1997 - April 1999, Evaluator Pilot, Marine Aircraft Group 42, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, La.
6. April 1999 - February 2000, Fixed Wing Qualification, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
7. February 2000 - July 2000, KC-135 Qualification Training, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.
8. July 2000 - September 2002, Current Operations Officer, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
9. September 2002 - July 2003, Conventional Plans Officer, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Neb.
10. July 2003 - July 2004, Chief of Tactics, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
11. July 2004 - February 2008, Chief of Safety, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Neb.
12. February 2008 - February 2009, Flight Commander, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
13. February 2009 - October 2011, Commander, 155th Civil Engineer Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
14. October 2011 - October 2012, Commander, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, Lincoln, Neb.
15. October 2012 - April 2014, Director of Staff-Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Lincoln, Neb.
16. April 2014 - October 2014, Vice Chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Lincoln, Neb.
17. October 2014 - May 2016, Commander, 155th Maintenance Group, Lincoln, Neb.
18. May 2016 - August 2017, Vice Commander, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Neb.
19. August 2017 - December 2020, Commander, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Neb.
20. January 2021 - January 2022, Retired Reserve
21. February 2022 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Lincoln, Neb.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,200
Aircraft flown: T-34, TH-57, AH-1, UH-1, T-37, T-1 and KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 21, 1990
First Lieutenant June 1, 1993
Captain June 1, 1995
Major June 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 1, 2008
Colonel June 13, 2013
Brigadier General Feb. 27, 2022
(Current as of September 2024)
