Military
Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force (A5/8)
Major General Joseph G. Balskus is the Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force (A5/8), Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Virginia. He assists in the development, integration, evaluation and analysis of the US Air Force Future Years Defense Program that exceeds $636 billion, as well as the Air Force long-range plan to support national security objectives and military strategy.
General Balskus began his military career by joining the United States Air Force in 1979. He graduated from Officer Training School as a Second Lieutenant in 1980 with the honor of Distinguished Graduate. He was assigned as an Air Weapons Controller while on Active Duty and served in Osan, Korea, Homestead, Florida and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He was combat qualified and worked extensively with the F-4C Phantom, the F-15 Eagle, and the E3A (Airborne Warning and Control System). Following in-residence Squadron Officer School, General Balskus was assigned as an Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies at The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina from 1984 - 1988. In 1990, after serving eight years on Active Duty and two years in the Air Force Reserves as Information Management Officer, 315th Military Airlift Wing (Associate), Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, General Balskus joined the Florida Air National Guard. General Balskus has commanded at every level with squadron, group, and state positions. He held several positions at 125th Fighter Wing and State Headquarters. He served as Commander and Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Florida National Guard. General Balskus assumed his current position as Military Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force A5/8, on 3 December 2012.
1976 Eastern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science, Speech Pathology,
Charleston, Illinois
1977 Eastern Illinois University, Master of Science, Speech Pathology and
Audiology, Charleston, Illinois
1999 United States Air War College, by Seminar
2005 Syracuse University, National Security Management Course, Syracuse, New York
2005 Joint Task Force Commander Course, Camp Dawson, West Virginia
2010 Air Force Smart Operations 21, Level II Certification, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
2010 John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University, Senior Executives in International Security, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1. February 1980 - October 1980, Bomb Directing Officer Air Weapons
Controller, 6130th Tactical Control Flight, Osan Air Base, Korea
2. October 1980 - April 1981, Operations Training Officer, 6130th Tactical
Control Flight, Osan Air Base, Korea
3. April 1981 - December 1982, Unit Tactical Air Controller, 726th Tactical
Control Squadron, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida
4. December 1982 - December 1983, Unit Operations Training Officer, 726th
Tactical Control Squadron, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida
5. December 1983 - March 1985, Deputy Director of Operations, 726th Tactical
Control Squadron, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida
6. March 1985 - May 1985, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force
Base, Alabama
7. May 1985 - July 1988, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force
Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 765, The Citadel, Charleston, South
Carolina
8. August 1988 - September 1990, Administrative Management Officer, 315th
Military Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina
9. September 1990 - September 1991, Education Services Officer, 125th Mission
Support Squadron, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville International
Airport, Florida
10. September 1991 - March 1992, Education and Training Staff Officer, 125th
Mission Support Squadron, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville International
Airport, Florida
11. March 1992 - March 1996, Education and Training Staff Officer, Headquarters,
Florida Air National Guard, Saint Augustine, Florida
12. April 1996 - March 1997, Chief of Supply, 125th Logistics Squadron, Florida
Air National Guard, Jacksonville International Airport, Florida
13. April 1997 - March 1999, Commander, 125th Logistics Squadron, Florida Air
National Guard, Jacksonville International Airport, Florida
14. April 1999 - March 2001, Support Group Commander, Headquarters, Florida Air
National Guard, Saint Augustine, Florida
15. April 2001 - August 2006, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Florida Air National
Guard, Saint Augustine, Florida
16. August 2006 - November 2012, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Florida
National Guard, Also serves as Commander, Florida Air National Guard, Saint
Augustine, Florida
17. December 2012 - Present, Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff,
Air Force A5/8, Headquarters, United States Air Force, Pentagon, Virginia
Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Force Longevity Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Florida Cross (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Florida Distinguished Service Medal
Florida Commendation Medal
Florida Meritorious Service Ribbon
Florida Service Ribbon
Florida Active Duty Ribbon
Florida Recruiting Ribbon
Florida Retention Ribbon
1980 Distinguished Graduate Award, Officer Training School
1984 Distinguished Graduate Speaking Award, Squadron Officer School
1988 Arnold Air Society Officer of the Year, The Citadel, Military College of
South Carolina
1999 - 2000 Chief of Staff Organizational Excellence Award
1999 - 2002 Treasurer, National Guard Officer Association of Florida
2003 - 2006 President, National Guard Officer Association of Florida
2006 Hall of Fame Inductee, National Guard Officer Association of Florida
2007 Honorary Chief Master Sergeant, Florida Air National Guard
2008 - 2010 Vice Chairman, Air National Guard Strategic Planning System, National Guard Bureau, Washington, District of Columbia
2011 - 2012 Chairman, Air National Guard Strategic Planning System, National Guard Bureau, Washington, District of Columbia
Second Lieutenant 14 February 1980
First Lieutenant 14 February 1982
Captain 14 February 1984
Major 7 December 1991
Lieutenant Colonel 19 April 1996
Colonel 30 March 2000
Brigadier General 23 June 2003
Major General 30 November 2012
(Current as of November 2014)