Brigadier General Timothy J. Cossalter is the assistant adjutant general for Air, Minnesota National Guard, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is responsible for exercising command and control, directing Air National Guard operations, and establishing policy to ensure mission readiness of the two Air National Guard Wings in Minnesota.
General Cossalter enlisted in the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, Duluth Minn. in 1967. He was commissioned in 1971. He received his wings in 1973 upon completion of undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. after which he served as an air defense interceptor pilot. A command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, principally in fighter aircraft, General Cossalter then served as the 148th Fighter Wing Chief of Safety. He first commanded the 179th Fighter Squadron, followed by the 148th Operations Group the 148th Logistics Group and then the 148th Fighter Wing. Prior to assuming his current position, General Cossalter was the commander of the 133rd Airlift Wing, St Paul, Minn.
Bachelor of Arts degree, University of Minnesota
Air War College (correspondence)
1. November 1971 - September 1972, student, undergraduate pilot training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. October 1972 - April 1973, student, F101-B interceptor training, Ellington AFB, Texas.
3. May 1973 - January 1976, F-101 air defense interceptor pilot, Duluth Air National Guard Base, Duluth, Minn.
4. February 1976 - September 1983, RF-4C tactical reconnaissance pilot, Duluth ANGB, Duluth, Minn.
5. October 1983 - March 1990, F-4D pilot/operations training officer/chief of safety, Duluth ANGB, Duluth, Minn.
6. March 1990 - August 1991, F-16A pilot, chief of standardization and evaluation, Duluth ANGB, Minn.
7. August 1991 - June 1995, commander, 179th Fighter Squadron, Duluth ANGB, Minn.
8. July 1995 - January 1997, commander, 148th Operations Group, Duluth ANGB, Minn.
9. January 1997 - February 1998, commander, 148th Fighter Wing Logistics Group, Duluth ANGB, Minn.
10. February 1998 - June 2004, commander, 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth ANGB, Minn.
11. July 2004 - November 2006, commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn.
12. November 2006 - Present, assistant adjutant general, Air, JFHQ Minnesota Air National Guad
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4,000
Mission aircraft flown: T-33, F-101, RF-4, F-4, F-16 and C-130
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Minnesota Distinguished Service Medal
Second Lieutenant Oct. 13, 1971
First Lieutenant Sept. 15, 1974
Captain Feb. 16, 1977
Major Jan. 3, 1985
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 13, 1989
Colonel Dec. 19, 1996
Brigadier General Dec. 5, 2006
(Current as of May 2007)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.