Major General Alan L. Cowles is serving as the Director Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems Division (J-6) at the National Guard Bureau. As the Director, NGB-J6, he is responsible for making recommendations to the Chief, National Guard Bureau, on all matters of policy, programs, operations, testing, fielding, and utilization of all communication networks being deployed within the National Guard Bureau and the 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The assignment comes under the National Guard Assistant Program (NGAP).

Major General Cowles is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force when he completed the Officer Training Squadron program at Lackland AFB, TX. After spending three years on active duty as an Air Weapons Controller, he joined the Air National Guard. In his career, he has held a number of air operations staff, communications, and command assignments. He first worked as an Air Weapons Controller in the Tactical Air Control System and then moved on to Combat Communications as a Communications Officer. The general has been a squadron commander, a group deputy commander, and also the commander of the 253RD Combat Communications Group, Otis ANG Base, MA. Prior to becoming the Director, NGB-J6, Major General Cowles was assigned as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander for the Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center (AFC2ISRC), Langley AFB, VA.

EDUCATION:

1968 Bachelor of Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Ct
1969 USAF Officer Training School, Lackland AFB Texas
1969 Weapons Controller School, Tyndall AFB Fl
1975 Squadron Officers School
1977 Masters of Education, Springfield College, Springfield Mass.
1979 Air Command and Staff Course
1985 Communications-Electronics Officer Course, Keesler AFB Miss.
1989 National Security Management Course

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. August 1969 - January 1971, weapons controller, 827th Radar Squadron (ADC), Kingsley Field Or
2. January 1971 - April 1972, group weapons controller, 932nd Air Control & Warning Group (ADC), Rockville, Iceland
3. May 1974 - July 1984, stan/eval officer, 101st Tactical Air Control Squadron (TAC), Worcester Mass.
4. July 1984 - October 1985, chief, logistics division, 253rd Combat Communications Group (AFCC), Wellesley Mass.
5. October 1985 - September 1988, commander, 267th Combat Communications Squadron (AFCC), Wellesley Mass.
6. September 1988 - December, chief, logistics division, 1988 253rd Combat Communications Group (AFCC), Wellesley Mass.
7. December 1988 - January 1996, deputy commander, 253rd Combat Communications Group (ACC), Wellesley Mass.
8. January 1996 - November 2001, commander, 253rd Combat Communications Group (ACC), Otis ANB Base Mass.
9. November 2001 - Present, ANG assistant to the commander, Air Force command and control & intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance center

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

Director of the Environmental & Readiness Center, Massachusetts Military Reservation

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant Aug 13, 1969
First Lieutenant Feb 13, 1971
Captain Feb 21, 1976
Major Dec 6, 1980
Lieutenant Colonel Nov 1, 1986
Colonel Dec 2, 1989
Brigadier General Jul 1, 2002
Major General Jun 1, 2005

(Current as of September 2005)

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.

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