BRIGADIER GENERAL GARY R. CHARLTON, II
Brig. Gen. Gary Charlton is the Assistant Adjutant General for the New York Air National Guard, Division of Military and Naval Affairs in Latham, New York. As the Assistant Adjutant General, he is responsible for the mission readiness and operation effectiveness across six distinctly different weapons systems, spanning five flying wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector. Brig. Gen. Charlton is responsible for more than 5,800 airmen and civilians belonging to the largest and most diverse Air National Guard within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
Brig. Gen. Charlton began his military career in May 1990, enlisting in the New York Air National Guard as a Fuels Systems Technician. He later furthered his education by earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Columbia College in 1995, and subsequently completed a Master of Arts degree in Military Studies, with a concentration in Joint Warfare, through the Capstone Option program at American Military University, graduating in February 2025.
Brig. Gen. Charlton commissioned in 2000 and attended undergraduate pilot training in 2001. He completed initial F-16 qualification training in 2002 and served as an F-16C pilot flying with the 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, New York. Brig. Gen. Charlton's command experience includes leadership positions at the flight, detachment, squadron, and group levels, culminating in his tenure as Commander of the 107th and 105th Wings. A combat veteran, Brig. Gen. Charlton served seven combat deployments, Operations DESERT SHIELD and STORM, and NORTHERN WATCH while enlisted, and four additional deployments flying F-16C combat missions in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. He is a command pilot with over 3,500 combined flying hours in various aircrafts to include: T-37, T- 38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, MQ-9, and C-17A. Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Charlton served as Director of Operations A3/10 at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, National Guard Bureau, located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Columbia College, Mo.
1999 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2000 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Commander Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Cener, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Ft. Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 United States Air Force Wing Commanders Seminar, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 USAF Senior Leaders Mission Generation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Wing Commander Executive Level Response Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Joint Air Component Coordination Element Course, Hancock Field ANGB, N.Y.
2021 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2023 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Regional Seminar - Africa, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2024 Senior Leader Orientation Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2025 Master of Arts in Military Studies, American Military University, Charles Town, West Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1990 - June 2000, Fuels System Technician, New York Air National Guard, Hancock Field, N.Y
2. November 2000 - March 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas
3. March 2001 - November 2002, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. November 2002 - December 2003, Student, Initial F-16 Qualification Training, Springfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio
5. December 2003 - January 2005, Chief of Scheduling & Training, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
6. January 2005 - May 2007, Mission Planning SME/Life Support Flight Commander, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
7. June 2007 - February 2009, Commander, 174th Forward Operating Location, Wheeler Sack Army Airfield, N.Y.
8. February 2009 - November 2011, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 174th Operation Support Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
9. November 2011 - October 2012, Chief Standardization & Evaluations, 174th Operations Group, Hancock Field, N.Y.
10. October 2012 - September 2014, Director of Operations, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
11. September 2014 - May 2015, Commander, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
12. May 2015 - May 2016, Commander, 107th Operations Group, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y.
13. May 2016 - November 2018, Vice Wing Commander, 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
14. November 2018 - March 2022, Commander, 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
15. March 2022 - January 2024, Commander, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart ANGB, Newburgh, N.Y.
16. June 2024 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General, Latham, N.Y.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,400
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, MQ-9, C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 30, 2000
First Lieutenant June 30, 2002
Captain June 30, 2004
Major Oct. 9, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 20, 2013
Colonel Dec. 7, 2016
Brigadier General June 1, 2022
(Current as of May 2025)
