BRIGADIER GENERAL BERRY L. MCCORMICK
Retired April 28, 2024
Brig Gen Berry L. McCormick was the Deputy Commander, NATO Mission Iraq (NMI), Baghdad, Iraq. NMI brings together military and civilian personnel from across the alliance with expertise in security sector reform, institution building, training, and professional military education. The mission works with the Ministry of Defense, Office of the National Security Advisor, and the Prime Minister's National Operations Center. NMI's primary mission is to train and advise senior Ministry of Defense leaders on techniques to establish an enduring national security strategy, national military strategy, and repeatable defense planning and programming processes supporting the Iraqi Security Force organizations.
Brig Gen McCormick enlisted in the Mississippi Air National Guard (MS ANG) in 1988 as a Search Scope Operator with the 255th Tactical Control Squadron, Gulfport, Miss. After graduating from Mississippi State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANG Base, Tenn. and graduated from Weapons Director Training at Tyndall AFB, Fla. in 1993. He has served 34 years with the MS ANG in a multitude of capacities including Weapons Director, Air Surveillance Officer Instructor/Evaluator, Civil Engineer, A-Staff Director, Squadron Commander, and Installation Commander. His command experience includes tours as both Civil Engineer Squadron and Air Control Squadron Commander. He has deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and the United Arab Emirates for Air Defense of the Arabian Gulf. Prior to his current position, he was the Commander of the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2006 Air Force Civil Engineer Basic Course, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2011 Air Force Forces Intermediate Staff Course, Meridian Naval Air Station, Miss.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Penn.
2023 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1988 - January 1993, Search Scope Operator, 255th Tactical Control Squadron, Gulfport, Miss.
2. January 1993 - February 1993, Student, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
3. February 1993 - June 1993, Weapons Director Trainee, 255th Air Control Squadron, Gulfport, Miss.
4. June 1993 - December 1993, Student, Weapons Director School, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
5. December 1993 - June 1999, Weapons Director, 255th Air Control Squadron, Gulfport, Miss.
6. June 1999 - June 2005, Air Surveillance Officer, 255th Air Control Squadron, Gulfport, Miss. (June – December 1999, Air Surveillance Officer, 9th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
7. June 2005 - November 2010, Commander, 209th Civil Engineer Squadron, Gulfport, Miss. (August 2008 – February 2009, Deputy Commander, Salerno Facility Engineer Team, Afghanistan)
8. November 2010 - June 2012, A7 Director, 253rd Air Support Squadron, Meridian, Miss.
9. June 2012 - September 2014, Commander, 255th Air Control Squadron, Gulfport, Miss. (May – November 2013, Commander, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates)
10. September 2014 - July 2019, Director of Support, Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Miss.
11. July 2019 - May 2021, Commander, Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Miss.
12. December 2022 - January 2024, Deputy Commander, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mission Iraq, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq
13. February 2024 - March 2024, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2018 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Army War College
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 11, 1993
First Lieutenant March 4, 1995
Captain Nov. 1, 1997
Major Feb. 14, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 14, 2006
Colonel Aug. 6, 2019
Brigadier General Dec. 20, 2022
(Current as of September 2024)
