Brigadier
General John E. Iffland is the commander of the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel
Islands Air National Guard Station (ANGS), Calif. He is responsible for the
largest C-130 Wing in the Air National Guard, consisting of a 12 Per Aircraft
Allowance C-130E/J squadron, an Aero Medical Evacuation Squadron, and the full
compliment of wing supporting squadrons with more than 1,200 personnel.
In 1970, General Iffland began his military career as a distinguished graduate of Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. During early assignments while on active duty, he served six temporary duty tours in Southeast Asia flying combat missions. In 1977, he joined the 133rd Tactical Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air National Guard Station, Minn. In 1979, he joined the 129th Air Rescue Group (ARG), California Air National Guard, at Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. During his tenure with the 129th, he commanded at all levels including; composite squadron, operations group and rescue group. In 1993 he served as acting deputy chief, operations and plans division, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C. In July 1993, General Iffland assumed his current position. In addition to serving as wing commander, he was appointed Task Force commander of Air Force Forces, Joint Forces Command, during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 wildfire seasons. In the 2003 wildfire season, he was appointed by United States Northern Command as the first Joint Task Force commander, providing Air Force Aviation, Marine Aviation and Marine Ground forces in support of the United States Forest Service. In 2003, he became the singular Air National Guard wing commander to establish and command a coalition Air Wing conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003 General Iffland was also selected on a full time basis as a special assistant to the director of the Air National Guard, becoming the director's senior advisor on matters of Homeland Security. He is a highly experienced combat veteran and command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours.
1969 Bachelor of science degree in operations research & statistics, California
State University, Long Beach, Calif.
1974 Master's degree in industrial management, Central Michigan University,
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1985 United States Marine Corps Command Staff College, by correspondence
1986 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1989 Air War College, by correspondence
1. January 1970 - February 1971, student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance
Air Force Base, Okla.
2. February 1971 - August 1973, instructor pilot, KC-135Q, 306th Air Refueling
Squadron, McCoy Air Force Base, Fla.
3. August 1973 - February 1976, instructor pilot, KC-135A, 32nd Air Refueling
Squadron, McCoy Air Force Base, Fla.
4. February 1976 - May 1977, inactive status, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel
Center, Denver, Colo.
5. May 1977 - January 1979, data processing officer, 133rd Communication Squadron,
Minnesota-St Paul International Airport, Minn.
6. January 1979 - February 1980, budget officer, 129th Aerospace Rescue/Recovery
Group, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif.
7. February 1980 - April 1983, instructor pilot, HC-130/N/H, 129th Aerospace
Rescue/Recovery Squadron, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif.
8. April 1983 - February 1985, aircraft commander, HC-130, 129th Aerospace
Rescue/Recovery Squadron, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif.
9. February 1985 - July 1985, flight leader, HC-130, 129th Aerospace Rescue/Recovery
Squadron, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif.
10. July 1985 - December 1988, commander, 129th Aerospace Rescue/Recovery Squadron,
Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif.
11. December 1988 - October 1991, deputy commander for operations, 129th Air
Rescue Group, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif.
12. October 1991 - March 1993, commander, 129th Rescue Group, California Air
National Guard, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Calif.
13. March 1993 - June 1993, acting deputy chief, operations and plans division,
National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, DC
14. June 1993 - July 1993, commander, 129th Rescue Group, Naval Air Station
Moffett Field, Calif.
15. July 1993 - Present, commander, 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands Air
National Guard Station, Calif.
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, KC-135Q, KC-135A, HC-130N, HC-130P, C-130E, C-130J
Pilot wings from: Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Coast Guard Unit Commendation under operational conditions
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation under operational conditions with
one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Vietnam Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
California Service Medal
California State Service Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Drill Attendance Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas - 1970
Member, Air Directorate Field Advisory Council, Rescue - December 1991
Member, Air Directorate Field Advisory Council, Airlift - March 1993
Chairman, Air Mobility Command/Air Reserve Component Policy and Advisory Board
- April 1997
Graduate, Capstone - July 1997
Vice Chairman, Air Directorate Field Advisory Council - April 2000
Second Lieutenant Jan 23, 1970
First Lieutenant July 23, 1971
Captain Feb 23, 1973
Major Feb. 12, 1983
Lieutenant Colonel Mar 12, 1987
Colonel Jun 18, 1991
Brigadier General Mar 14, 1996
(Current as of August 2004)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.