General Officer Biography

BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH E. LUCAS

 

Brigadier General Joseph E. Lucas is the assistant adjutant general, Iowa Air National Guard, Johnston, Iowa.  He also serves as the commander of the Iowa Air National Guard and is the primary advisor to the adjutant general on all Air Guard matters.  He ensures the highest level of operational readiness for all assigned units to meet both federal and state missions.

The general began his military career in the United States Marine Corps in 1971, receiving his commission through the Marine Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va. In 1980, he joined the Iowa Air National Guard as a traditional guard pilot and in 1997 became the 132nd Fighter Wing commander until 2000 when he was selected as the assistant adjutant general.  He is a command pilot with more than 3,975 flying hours.


EDUCATION:

1971 Bachelor of arts degree in biology, Central College, Pella, Iowa
1984 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1995 Air War College, by correspondence
1996 Air War College, in-residence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. January 1972 - April 1972, pilot training, United States Marine Corps, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
2. April 1972 - May 1973, pilot training, United States Marine Corps, NAS Beeville, Texas
3. May 1973 - January 1974, pilot, AGA/E, VMAT(AW) 202, MCAS, Cherry Point, N.C.
4. January 1974 - January 1975, pilot, VMA(AW) 121, MCAS, Cherry Point, N.C.
5. January 1974 - August 1976, instructor pilot - AGA/E, VMAT(AW) 202, MCAS, Cherry Point, N.C.
6. January 1974 - November 1976, assistant OIC/pilot, TME(AW), MCAS, Cherry Point, N.C.
7. November 1976 - April 1980, inactive reserve, USMCRC, Kansas City, Mo.
8. April 1980 - February 1985, pilot, 124th Fighter Squadron, Des Moines, Iowa
9. February 1985 - August 1990, aircraft crew instructor, 124th Fighter Squadron, Des Moines, Iowa
10. August 1990 - August 1993, wing safety officer, 132nd Fighter Wing, Des Moines, Iowa
11. August 1993 - June 1994, director of operations, 132nd Operations Group, Des Moines, Iowa
12. June 1994 - May 1996, operations support flight commander, 132nd Operations Support Flight, Des Moines, Iowa
13. May 1996 - March 1997, operations group commander, 132nd Operations Group, Des Moines, Iowa
14. March 1997 - June 2000, commander, 132nd Fighter Wing, Des Moines, Iowa
15. June 2000 ' present, assistant adjutant general, Headquarters Iowa Air National Guard, Johnston, Iowa

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,975
Aircraft flown: TA4J, A6A, A6E, A7D, and F-16C
Pilot wings from: US Navy, NAS Beeville, Texas

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Iowa Meritorious Service Medal
Iowa State Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:

State employee

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

First Lieutenant Apr 21, 1977
Captain Apr 29, 1980
Major Jul 13, 1986
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 6, 1990
Colonel Jun 7, 1996
Brigadier General May 25, 2001

 

 

(Current as of December 2001)

 

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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