Brigadier General Mark Ness
is the commander of the Minnesota Air National Guard, St. Paul, Minn. He ensures
that units of the Minnesota ANG are organized, manned, equipped, trained and
ready to accomplish their assigned state and federal missions. He also serves as
the principal advisor to the Adjutant General on matters pertaining to the
Minnesota Air National Guard.
General Ness began his military career by receiving a commission through the Officer Training Corps in 1972. General Ness' first operational assignment was to Pacific Air Forces in 1974 with the 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Clark Airbase, Philippines. He served as a current operations officer and flew numerous combat support missions during force evacuations of South Vietnam. He was assigned to the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in 1976. He was one of a selected number of all weather aerial delivery system aircraft commanders flying extensively in Europe and the Middle East supporting special forces joint airlift and airborne operations. Since joining the Minnesota Air National Guard, he has participated in major airlift contingency operations including Operation New Life, Operation Babylift, Operation New Arrival, Operation Snow Blow I and II, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and Operation Restore Hope/Provide Relief. He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours including 15.5 combat hours.
1972 Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, University of Minnesota, Duluth
1980 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1983 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1989 Masters of public administration, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn.
1990 National Security Management Course, by correspondence
1. October 1972 - December 1973, student undergraduate pilot training, 3630th Student Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. December 1973 - September 1975, squadron copilot, C-130E, 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Clark Airbase, Phillipines
3. September 1975 - May 1977, pilot, C-130E, 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
4. May 1977 - December 1978, aircraft commander, C-130E, 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
5. December 1978 - July 1979, inactive status, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center (NARS), Denver, Colo.
6. July 1979 - January 1982, pilot tactical airlift, 109th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minn.
7. January 1982 - September 1983, instructor pilot, 109th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minn.
8. September 1983 - June 1984, pilot tactical airlift, 109th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minn.
9. June 1984 - April 1990, pilot examiner, 109th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minn.
10. April 1990 - September 1995, chief pilot tactical airlift, 109th Airlift Squadron, St. Paul, Minn.
11. September 1995 - December 1995, logistics staff officer, Headquarters Minnesota Air National Guard, St. Paul, Minn.
12. December 1995 - June 1996, air operations staff director, Headquarters Minnesota Air National Guard, St. Paul, Minn.
13. June 1996 - December 1997, plans and programs officer, Headquarters Minnesota Air National Guard, St. Paul, Minn.
14. December 1997 - March 2001, air operations staff director, Headquarters Minnesota Air National Guard, St. Paul, Minn.
15. March 2001 - present, Commander, Headquarters Minnesota Air National Guard, St. Paul, Minn.
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,000
Aircraft flown: C-130A/E/H, T-37, T-38
Pilot wings from: Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
Meritorious Service Medal with one device
Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one device
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four devices
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with two devices
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one device
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with five devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one device
Air Force Training Ribbon
Minnesota Medal for Merit
Minnesota Service Medal with one device
Airline Captain/Check airman for Northwest Airlines
Outstanding Alumnus, Central Lakes College
National Guard Association of the United States
Enlisted National Guard Association, associate member
Air Force Association
Airline Pilots Association
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Veteran of Foreign Wars (Life member)
American Legion
University of Minnesota Alumni Association
Second Lieutenant - Jun 1972
First Lieutenant - Oct 1974
Captain - Oct 1976
Major - 1984
Lieutenant Colonel - Apr 1990
Colonel - Dec 1997
Brigadier General - Mar 2001
(Current as of Jan 2002)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.