Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Becklund is the Deputy Chief, Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq. The Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq conducts security cooperation and security assistance activities which lead to an increasingly unified, democratic, stable, self-reliant Iraq. The Office of Security Cooperation provides the foundation for the U.S. to remain Iraq’s strategic partner of choice by strengthening close relationships with Iraqi senior military and ministerial counterparts. This serves to develop a professional and self-sustaining military that bolsters internal security, deters external threats, and enhances stability with its regional partners.

General Becklund was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Tampa, Florida.  He was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1990, and earned his wings at Fort Rucker, Alabama in May 1991.  As a career helicopter pilot, he enjoyed assignments in rescue and special operations, participating in operations Joint Endeavor, Desert Thunder, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn and other worldwide contingencies. General Becklund has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels.  He is a command pilot with more than 2,600 hours.

EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 
1995 Master of Science, Environmental Management, West Coast University, Calif. 
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 Air Command and Staff College, correspondence
2004 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 
2005 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base Ala.
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
2009 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2013 Executive Leadership Program, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

ASSIGNMENTS
1.  August 1990 - May 1991, Student, Undergraduate Helicopter Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2.  May 1991 - September 1991, Student, UH-1N Basic Qualification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3.  September 1991 - April 1995, Evaluator pilot, 76th Rescue Flight, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. 
4.  April 1995 - April 1996, Student, MH-53J Basic Qualification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 
5.  April 1996 - May 1999, Instructor pilot, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 
6.  June 1999 - December 1999, Instructor pilot, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 
7.  December 1999 - May 2001, Safety Officer, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 
8.  June 2001 - June 2003, Chief, Rotary Wing Assault Operations Branch, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. 
9.  July 2003 - June 2004, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10.  July 2004 - June 2005, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
11.  July 2005 - January 2007, Operations Officer, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 
12.  January 2007 - June 2008, Commander, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 
13.  July 2008 - June 2009, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
14.  June 2009 - June 2010, Pol-Mil Planner, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15.  June 2010 - May 2012, Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. 
16.  July 2012 - July 2014, Commander, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
17.  Aug 2014 - July 2015, Military Assistant to the Commander, NATO Special Operations Headquarters, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium
18.  July 2015 - February 2016, Commandant, NATO Special Operations School, Chievres AB, Blegium
19.  February 2016 - present, Deputy Chief, Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2001 - June 2003, Chief, Rotary Wing Assault Operations Branch, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a major 
2. April 2006 - September 2006, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, J-3, Joint Base Balad, Iraq, as a lieutenant colonel 
3. June 2009 - June 2010, Pol-Mil Planner, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
4. June 2010 - May 2012, Commander, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Fort Bragg, N.C., and Commander, Joint Special Operations Air Component, Special Operations Task Force,  Balad Air Base, Iraq and Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan,  as a colonel
5. August 2014 - July 2015, Military Assistant to the Commander, NATO Special Operations Headquarters, Mons, Belgium, as a colonel
6.  July 2015 - February 2016, Commandant, NATO Special Operations School, Chievres AB, Belgium, as a brigadier general
7.  February 2016 - present, Deputy Chief, Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating:  command pilot 
Flight hours:  more than 2,600 
Aircraft Flown:  UH-1H, UH-1N, TH-1H, TH-53A, MH-53J/M, HH-60G, CV-22, HH-130P/N, MC-130P, MC-130H, MC-130J

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 1990
First Lieutenant May 30, 1992
Captain May 30, 1994
Major July 1, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2005
Colonel Sept. 1, 2009
Brigadier General July 24, 2015

(Current as of May 2016)