MAJOR GENERAL JOHN F. NICHOLS

The Adjutant General, Texas

Major General John F. Nichols was appointed The Adjutant General, Texas on February 16, 2011.

General Nichols received his commission in 1979 through the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His flying assignments started at Reese Air Force Base, Texas as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot in the T-38. He transitioned to the F-16 at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona and was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing. After completing the United States Air Force F-16 Fighter Weapons School in 1988, he was assigned to the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing at Torrejon Air Base, Spain. While in Spain, he served as a squadron and wing weapons officer and as an assistant operations officer in the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was then assigned to Headquarters, Air Staff, Directorate of Operations, for Project Checkmate at Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. General Nichols joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 1992. At Madison, he was Chief of Wing Weapons, 176th Fighter Squadron Operations officer and 115th Fighter Wing Operations Group Commander. General Nichols joined the Texas Air National Guard in April of 2000. He was the Vice Commander of the 149th Fighter Wing from April 2000 to March 2002 and commanded the 149th Fighter Wing from April 2002 to March 2009. General Nichols is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in fighter aircraft. His most recent assignment was Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Texas National Guard.

EDUCATION:

1979 United States Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1988 United States Air Force Fighter Weapons Instructor School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
1999 Air War College, by correspondence
2007 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2010 Contingency Dual Status Commander Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1979 - August 1980, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 1980 - January 1981, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
3. January 1981 - October 1983, Instructor Pilot, T-38, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
4. October 1983 - April 1984, Student, Fighter Lead-In Training, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
5. April 1984 - November 1984, Student, F-16, Upgrade Training, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
6. November 1984 - January 1986, Pilot, F-16/Chief of Scheduling, 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
7. January 1986 - May 1988, Instructor Pilot, F-16/Flight Commander, 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
8. May 1988 - May 1989, Pilot, F-16/Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
9. May 1989 - May 1990, Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
10. May 1990 - November 1991, Assistant Operations Officer, 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
11. November 1991 - November 1992, Chief, Red Air-to-Ground Operations, Project Checkmate, Directorate of Operations, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia
12. November 1992 - April 1994, Wing Weapons and Tactics Officer, Headquarters, 128th Fighter Wing, Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin
13. May 1994 - April 1998, Operations Officer, 176th Fighter Squadron, Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin
14. April 1998 - April 2000, Commander, 115th Operations Group, Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin
15. April 2000 - March 2002, Vice Commander, 149th Fighter Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
16. March 2002 - March 2003, Commander, 147th Fighter Wing, Ellington Field, Texas
17. March 2003 - March 2009, Commander, 149th Fighter Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
18. March 2009 - February 2011, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Texas National Guard, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas; also served, August 2009 - February 2011, A8, Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, Arlington, Virginia
19. February 2011 - Present, The Adjutant General, Texas, Austin, Texas

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,400
Aircraft flown: F-16, T-37 and T-38
Pilot Wings Earned: Reese Air Force Base, Texas

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with V Device and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal (with 1 silver oak leaf cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long Tour
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Bronze Hourglass)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
Texas Lonestar Distinguished Service Medal
Texas Outstanding Service Medal
Texas Faithful Service Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 30 May 1979
First Lieutenant 30 May 1981
Captain 30 May 1983
Major 1 July 1990
Lieutenant Colonel 17 July 1994
Colonel 30 July 1999
Brigadier General 16 March 2009
Major General 22 December 2010

(Current as of August 2011)