BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES D. CLEET
Brig. Gen. James D. Cleet is the Deputy Director of United States European Command Plans and Operations Directorate, located in Stuttgart, Germany. He is responsible for the development and execution of operations supporting U.S. interests and regional alliances in the European Command area of responsibility. His specific portfolio includes Information Operations, Integrated Air and Missile Defense and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications. The Plans and Operations Directorate integrates and synchronizes Joint Operations in conjunction with our Allies, Partner nations, interagency stakeholders and the Department of Defense through operational directives, plans, orders, joint training, and exercises.
General Cleet entered the Air Force in 1991 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas on Sept. 12, 1992 and was appointed Lead Flight Test Engineer on the B-2A Stealth Bomber, Air Force Materiel Command. General Cleet completed initial F-16 training in April 1996. Subsequently, he served as an operational F-16 pilot with assignments in PACAF, USAFE, ACC, AFCENT and the Air National Guard while supporting Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, DESERT FOX, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and NOBLE EAGLE. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours in the C-130 and F-16 and has flown more than 200 combat sorties, totaling more than 760 combat hours.
General Cleet joined the Minnesota National Guard on August 17, 2004 and has served as a Weapons Officer, Director of Operations, and Squadron Commander at the 148th Fighter Wing, as well as Director of Operations at Joint Force Headquarters. In 2015, General Cleet joined the 133rd Airlift Wing, and served as the Air Operations Officer and Group Commander for the 133rd Operations Group. He was the Vice Commander for the 133rd Airlift Wing. Prior to his current assignment, General Cleet was a C-130 Weapons System Council Chairman and served on the Director of the Air National Guard’s Air Directorate Field Advisory Council.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy, Honor Graduate, Colo.
1997 Squadron Officers School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1999 Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2009 Air War College, by correspondence
2016 Joint Combined Warfighting School, Hybrid, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2020 United States Air Force Senior Leaders’ Mission Generation Course, by correspondence
2020 Wing Commander Executive Level Response Course, by correspondence
2021 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Washington, D.C.
2021 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Washington, D.C.
2022 Reserve Component National Security Course, Washington D.C.
2024 Senior Leader Orientation Course; Joint Base Andrews, Md
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1991 - October 1992, Student Pilot Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1992 - March 1993, B2A Human Factors Engineer, 422nd Test & Evaluation Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
3. March 1993 - June 1995, B2A Lead Flight Test Engineer, 422nd Test & Evaluation Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
4. June 1995 - February 1996, Student, F-16 RTU, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. February 1996 - March 1996, Asst. Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
6. March 1996 - October 1997, Chief of Plans and Mobility, 13th Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
7. October 1997 - July 1999, Flight Commander, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea
8. July 1999 - December 1999, Student, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. December 1999 - November 2000, Chief Weapons and Tactics, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea
10. November 2000 - April 2002, Chief Weapons, Tactics & Intelligence, 22nd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
11. April 2002 - August 2003, Chief Wing Weapons and Tactics, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
12. August 2003 - August 2004, Chief Wing Inspections, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
13. August 2004 - November 2006, Chief Wing Weapons and Tactics, 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn.
14. November 2007 - May 2008, Fighter Enhancement Program Manager & Weapons Officer, 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn.
15. May 2008 - August 2011, Director of Operations, 179th Fighter Squadron, 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn.
16. August 2011 - February 2014, Commander, 148th Operational Support Squadron/Advanced Program Manager, Duluth, Minn.
17. February 2014 - February 2015, Director of Operations-Air/A3, MNANG, Joint Forces Headquarters, St. Paul, Minn.
18. February 2015 - September 2016, Air Operations Officer, 133rd Operations Group, St. Paul, Minn.
19. September 2016 - September 2018, Commander, 133rd Operations Group, St. Paul, Minn.
20. September 2018 - August 2019, Vice Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn.
21. August 2019 - June 2023, Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn.
22. June 2023 - Present, Deputy Director of Operations for Information Operations (I/O), Cyber Operations, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), and Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3), United States European Command (USEUCOM), Stuttgart-Vaihingen, APO AE
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,900 hours
Aircraft flown: C-130H3, F-16C+/D/CJ/CM, T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with Valor and nine oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFLIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
Air Force Association, Life Member
Society of Wild Weasels, Life Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1991
First Lieutenant May 29, 1993
Captain May 29, 1995
Major April 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 27, 2007
Colonel March 21, 2014
Brigadier General Feb. 17, 2023
(Current as of June 2024)
