Brigadier General William B. Jernigan is chief of staff, Headquarters, Mississippi Air National Guard, Jackson, Miss. He assists the commander and adjutant general in formulating, developing, and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans ensuring the combat readiness of an air-refueling wing, an airlift wing, and a combat readiness training center which includes combat communication and civil engineering squadrons.

General Jernigan entered the Air Force in 1975 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss, in May, 1974. He was then assigned to Craig Air Force Base, Ala., where he worked as an Instructor Pilot and Academic Instructor. Upon separation from active duty in November, 1976, General Jernigan joined the National Guard serving as a pilot in the 153rd Tactical Reconnaissance Fighter Wing, Meridian, Miss. In 1981, he joined the 172nd Airlift Wing in Jackson, Miss, with operational responsibilities progressing to commander, 172nd Operations Group. General Jernigan joined the state staff in 1998, as director of operations at Headquarters, Mississippi Air National Guard. He was selected as chief, C-17 Program Integration Office in 1999, and returned to the 172nd Airlift Wing. Prior to his current position, General Jernigan commanded the 172nd Airlift Wing, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.

EDUCATION:

1973 Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
1978 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1983 Master of Business Administration, Mississippi College, Clinton, Miss.
1993 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
1997 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. June 1973 - June 1974, student, 14th Student Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. June 1974 - November 1974, student, Pilot Instructor Training T-37, 43rd Flight Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Tex.
3. November 1974 - April 1976, squadron flight training instructor, 43rd Flight Training Squadron, Craig Field, Ala.
4. April 1976 - November 1976, squadron academic training instructor, 29th Student Squadron, Craig Field, Ala.
5. November 1976 - December 1979, pilot, RF101A, 153rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Key Field, Meridian, Miss.
6. December 1979 - May 1981, pilot, RF-4C, 153rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Key Field, Meridian, Miss.
7. May 1981 - July 1986, pilot, C-130H, 183rd Tactical Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
8. July 1986 - June 1992, aircraft commander, C-141B, 183rd Mobility Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
9. June 1992 - July 1993, squadron executive officer, 183rd Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
10. July 1993 - June 1997, flight commander, C-141B, 183rd Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
11. June 1997 - June 1998, commander, 172nd Operations Support Flight, 172nd Operations Support Group, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
12. June 1998 - December 1998, commander, 172nd Operations Group, 172nd Operations Group, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
13. December 1998 - October 2002, director of operations, Headquarters Mississippi Air National Guard, Jackson, Miss.
14. October 2002 - June 2003, commander, 172nd Airlift Wing, Thompson Field, Jackson, Miss.
15. June 2003 - Present, chief of staff, Mississippi Air National Guard, Jackson, Miss.

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 5,106 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, F101F, RF101A, RF-4C, C130E/H, C-141A/B

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with two service stars
Armed Force Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Campaign with three service stars
Humanitarian Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with five oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with a silver hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal - Government of Kuwait

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant May 20, 1973
First Lieutenant Jun 6, 1976
Captain Jan 26, 1979
Major May 20, 1987
Lieutenant Colonel Dec 17, 1993
Colonel Jun 30, 1998
Brigadier General Aug 21, 2003

(Current as of January 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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