BRIGADIER GENERAL MARY S. DECKER
Brig Gen Mary S. Decker is the Chief of Staff at Kentucky Air National Guard. She directs the Air Staff assigned to the Kentucky Joint Force Headquarters support to over 1,200 authorized personnel. She is also responsible for developing plans and publishing policies that support the field units. Additionally, she is the principal advisor and primary advocate for strategic initiatives.
General Decker received her commission through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. Her career has a myriad of leadership and staff positions at the Wing, State, and National level. She has commanded at the flight, squadron, and group levels. As Security Forces Commander, she deployed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in support of Hurricane Katrina and to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan as Chief of Force Protection in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Gen Decker served as the Security Forces Programmer and Comptroller at the Air National Guard Readiness Center. In her role as Support Squadron Commander, she was responsible for Civil Engineering, Logistics Readiness, Communications, Force Support and Recruiting and Retention in support of the Virginia Air National Guard mission and its members. After graduating Eisenhower School, General Decker served as the Senior Executive Officer to the Director, Air National Guard, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
She served as the Mission Support Group Commander at the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky. The group provided agile combat support to the Wing for Federal and State missions. Prior to her current assignment, she was the Director of Staff for the Joint Force Headquarters – Air, Kentucky National Guard. General Decker was responsible for a wide diversity of Air Force and Air National Guard functions and programs and served The Adjutant General of Kentucky as his principal full-time advisor on all matters pertaining to the Kentucky Air National Guard and Unit States Air Force.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, McKendree College, Louisville, Ky.
2001 Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn
2009 Squadron Officer School, Air University, by correspondence
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, by correspondence
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2013 Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2014 Intermediate Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2016 Air War College, Air University, by correspondence
2017 Master of Strategic Studies in National Security and Strategic Studies, National Defense University, National War College, District of Columbia, District of Columbia
2017 Senior Acquisition Course, National Defense University, Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Commander’s Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
2020 Air Force Emergency Operations Center Director’s Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS), Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2024 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2001 - April 2011, Student, ANG Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANG Base, Knoxville, Tenn.
2. April 2001 - January 2003, Budget Officer, 123rd Airlift Wing, Louisville, Ky.
3. January 2003 - March 2004, Comptroller, 123rd Airlift Wing, Louisville, Ky.
4. March 2004 - February 2008, Commander, 123rd Security Forces Squadron, Louisville, Ky. (August 2006 – February 2007, Chief, Force Protection, Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan)
5. February 2008 - December 2009, Executive Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Frankfort, Ky.
6. December 2009 - July 2011, Commander, 123rd Communications Flight, Louisville, Ky.
7. August 2011 - May 2013, Security Forces Programmer, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
8. June 2013 - June 2014, Comptroller, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
9. July 2014 - June 2016, Commander, 192nd Support Squadron Commander, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
10. June 2016 - August 2016, Special Assistant to Commander, JB Andrews, Md.
11. August 2016 - June 2017, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2017 - December 2018, Senior Executive Officer, Director, Air National Guard, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. December 2018 - November 2020, Commander, 123rd Mission Support Group, Louisville, Ky.
14. December 2020 - May 2022, Director of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Kentucky Air National Guard, Frankfort, Ky.
15. November 2022 - Present, Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Kentucky Air National Guard, Frankfort, Ky. ; dual-hatted, June 2023 - Present, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with eight oak leaf clusters
AF Organizational Excellence Award
AF Good Conduct Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Medal with oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
2007 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, Junior Officer Category, National Guard Bureau
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Basic Communications Officer Training Course
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 20, 2001
First Lieutenant April 20, 2003
Captain April 20, 2005
Major April 26, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel May 15, 2013
Colonel April 12, 2017
Brigadier General Aug. 20, 2022
(Current as of June 2024)
