MAJOR GENERAL MICHELE L. KILGORE
Maj. Gen. Michele L. Kilgore is the Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She leads a staff of military and civilians in the development, integration, evaluation, analysis and formulation of the Air Force’s Future Years Defense Program and maintains the integrity of the Air Force Corporate Process.
General Kilgore earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992. General Kilgore earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies in 2002 from California State University, San Bernadino. She served on Active Duty for 12 years before joining the New York Air National Guard in 2004. General Kilgore has deployed eight times and flown missions in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and DEEP FREEZE. She is a Command Pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours in the F-16C+, F-16CJ, EA-6B, MQ-9, KC-10A, C-12F/J, and L/C-130H. Prior to her current assignment, General Kilgore was the Deputy Director of Operations, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters United States Northern Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 United States Air Force Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2002 Master of Arts, National Security Studies, California State University - San Bernardino, San Bernardino, Calif.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Joint Staff Training Course, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2017 Joint Task Force Commanders Course, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2017 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2018 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse, N.Y.
2021 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Alexandria, Va.
2021 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2021 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS), Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2022 Senior Executives in National and International Security (SENIS), Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2022 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), JB Andrews, Md.
2023 Artificial Intelligence for National Security Leaders, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass.
2023 CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2023 Senior Joint Information Operations Applications Course (SJIOAC), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course (JFOWC), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC) course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1992 - October 1993, Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. October 1993 - June 1995, KC-10A Pilot, 709th Air Refueling Squadron, March AFB, Calif.
3. June 1995 - June 1997, KC-10A Pilot, Aircraft Commander and Mission Controller, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
4. June 1997 - June 1998, C-12J Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. June 1998 - December 1999, Student, F-16 USAF Basic Operational Training Course, 308th Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
6. December 1999 - December 2001, Chief of Safety, F-16CJ Pilot, 14th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
7. December 2001 - October 2002, Student, Category I EA-6B Transition Course, 366th Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
8. November 2002 - October 2004, EA-6B Pilot, Logistics, Mobility Head, and Administration Department Head, 366th Operations Group, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
9. November 2004 - September 2010, F-16C+ Pilot, Assistant Scheduler, Scheduler and ‘A’ Flight Commander, 138th Fighter Squadron, New York Air National Guard, Hancock Field, Syracuse, N.Y.
10. October 2010 - September 2013, MQ-9 Pilot and ‘B’ Flight Commander, 138th Attack Squadron, NYANG, Hancock Field, Syracuse, N.Y.
11. October 2013 - September 2014, MQ-9 Pilot, Deputy Chief, ANG Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operations Branch, (NGB/A3YR), Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
12. October 2014 - May 2015, Director of Operations, MQ-9 Combat Pilot, 174th Operations Support Squadron, NYANG, Hancock Field, Syracuse, N.Y.
13. May 2015 - October 2017, Commander, 174th Operations Group, NYANG, Hancock Field, Syracuse, N.Y.
14. October 2017 - December 2020, Commander, 109th Airlift Wing, NYANG, Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, N.Y.
15. December 2020 - August 2021, Deputy Chief, Homeland Division, Western Hemisphere, Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. August 2021 - September 2022, Military Deputy Director for Concepts and Strategy, (HAF A5/7S), Air Force Futures, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. September 2022 - September 2024, Deputy Director of Operations (NC-J3D), U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
18. September 2024 - Present, Deputy Director of Programs (HAF A8P), Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2020 - August 2021, Deputy Chief, Homeland Division, Western Hemisphere, Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
2. September 2022 - September 2024, Deputy Director of Operations (NC-J3D), U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,900
Aircraft flown: C-12F/J, EA-6B, F-16C+, F-16CJ, KC-10A, L/C-130H, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Navy Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with six oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1992
First Lieutenant May 27, 1994
Captain May 27, 1996
Major Nov. 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 15, 2007
Colonel March 10, 2016
Brigadier General Aug. 6, 2021
Major General Sept. 16, 2024
(Current as of November 2024)
