BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS E. STICKFORD

Brig. Gen. Thomas E. Stickford is Vice Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. As Air Mobility Command's warfighting numbered air force, 18th Air Force is responsible for tasking and executing all air mobility missions. It consists of 12 AMC wings, three AMC groups, two expeditionary mobility task forces and the Tanker Airlift Control Center.

The general was commissioned in 1976 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Colorado's ROTC program. A command pilot with more than 5,300 flying hours, he has commanded at the squadron (KC-10), group (KC-135) and wing (C-9, C-21) levels. On Sept. 11, 2001, he deployed to 1st Air Force at Tyndall AFB, Fla., as the Director of Mobility Forces to set up tanker and airlift operations for the defense of the United States. For Operation Allied Force, he deployed to the Combined Air Operations Center at Vicenza, Italy, as the theater Tanker Director, responsible to the Combined Forces Air Component Commander for all tanker operations, which included more than 200 NATO tankers at 13 bases in 11 countries. He has also commanded expeditionary units at Moron, Spain; Cairo, Egypt; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for various real-world operations. 

His staff experience includes positions as KC-135/KC-10 program element monitor and programmer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Deputy Chief, Strategic Planning Team, Legislative Affairs Officer and Deputy Chief, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command; and Chief, Global Mobility Division, and Global Mobility Panel Chair, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He has also served as Air Mobility Command's Inspector General.  Prior to his current assignment, he was Director of Weather, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Air Force Deputy to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C.

EDUCATION
1976 Bachelor of Science degree in business (accounting), University of Colorado, Boulder
1983 Distinguished graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1985 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1986 Master of Aeronautical Science degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
1995 Master of Science degree in national security strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2001 Senior Executive Fellows Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1977 - May 1978, student, undergraduate pilot training, Reese AFB, Texas
2. June 1978 - November 1978, student, B-52 Combat Crew Training School, Castle AFB, Calif.
3. December 1978 - April 1982, B-52 co-pilot and standardization and evaluation co-pilot, 62nd Bombardment Squadron and 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. April 1982 - November 1982, KC-10 co-pilot, 32nd Air Refueling Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
5. November 1982 - September 1986, KC-10 co-pilot, pilot, instructor pilot, and Assistant Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 9th Air Refueling Squadron and 22nd Air Refueling Wing, March AFB, Calif.
6. October 1986 - November 1989, Major Command Chief, KC-10 Tactics Branch and MAJCOM Chief, KC-10 Evaluation Branch, 1st Combat Evaluation Group, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. November 1989 - August 1992, KC-10 Program Element Monitor and KC-135/KC-10 Program Element Monitor and Programmer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
8. August 1992 - July 1994, operations officer, then Commander, 32nd Air Refueling Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
9. August 1994 - June 1995, student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
10. July 1995 - August 1997, Deputy Chief, Strategic Planning Team; Legislative Affairs Officer; and Deputy Chief, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
11. November 1997 - July 1999, Commander, 22nd Operations Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
12. August 1999 - June 2000, Chief, Global Mobility Division, and Global Mobility Panel Chair, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2000 - January 2002, Commander, 375th Airlift Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.
14. January 2002 - July 2003, Inspector General, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
15. July 2003 - November 2005, Director of Weather, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Air Force Deputy to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C.
16. November 2005 - present, Vice Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 5,300
Aircraft Flown: B-52, T-37, KC-10, T-38, KC-135, C-21 and C-9

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

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1976
First Lieutenant Dec. 2, 1978
Captain Dec. 2, 1980
Major Jan 1, 1988
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 1992
Colonel Dec. 1, 1997
Brigadier General Oct. 1, 2003

(Current as of September 2006)