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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH T. GUASTELLA |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH T. GUASTELLA
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Brig. Gen. Joseph T. Guastella, Jr., is Commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. As Commander, he is responsible for executing close air support; air mobility; combat search and rescue; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and electronic attack operations in support of U.S., Coalition and partner forces in Afghanistan. The wing also provides security for Bagram Airfield, aeromedical evacuation and command and control assets in support of the International Security Assistance Force and Operation Enduring Freedom.
General Guastella entered the Air Force in 1987 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He's flown both the F-16 and A-10, served multiple combat tours and instructed at the USAF Fighter Weapons School. He has commanded the 555th Fighter Squadron, 'Triple Nickel', Aviano Air Base, Italy and 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. He also served as a staff officer establishing requirements for the F-35 at Headquarters Air Force Directorate of Operational Requirements.
Prior to his current assignment, he was the Deputy Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science degree in astronautical engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1995 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
1997 Master of Science in Aero Science Technology, Embry Riddle University
2001 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2011 Senior Executive Fellows program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1987 - January 1989, student pilot, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. January 1989 - September 1989, F-16 initial training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. September 1989 - May 1992, squadron electronic combat pilot and assistant weapons officer, 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
4. May 1992 - May 1993, instructor pilot, assistant flight commander and assistant weapons officer, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Korea
5. May 1993 - April 1994, standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 526th TFS, Ramstein AB, Germany
6. April 1994 - December 1996, standardization and evaluation flight examiner, later, squadron weapons and tactics officer and assistant wing weapons officer, 555th FS, Aviano AB, Italy
7. December 1996 - August 2000, Instructor, F-16 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. September 2000 - June 2001, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2001 - August 2002, action officer, Joint Strike Fighter and Combat Identification Programs, Headquarters Air Force, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Washington, D.C.
10. August 2002 - July 2005, operations officer, later, commander, 555th FS, Aviano AB, Italy
11. August 2005 - July 2006, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2006 - June 2007, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, A3 forward and Combined Air Operations Center Director of Operations, Southwest Asia
13. June 2007 - August 2008, Deputy Director CAPSTONE, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
14. August 2008 - June 2010, Vice Commander, later, commander 20th FW, Shaw AFB, S.C.
15. June 2010 - July 2012, Chief Program Integration Division, Directorate of Programs, later Deputy Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2012 - present, Commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2006 - June 2007, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, A3 forward and Combined Air Operations Center Director of Operations, Southwest Asia, as a colonel
2. June 2007 - August 2008, Deputy Director CAPSTONE, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,800 (900+ combat)
Aircraft flown: F-16C/D, A-10C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1987
First Lieutenant May 27, 1989
Captain May 27, 1991
Major Nov. 1, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2003
Colonel Jun. 15, 2006
Brigadier General Nov. 18, 2011
(Current as of April 2013)
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