BRIGADIER GENERAL FRED F. CASTLE JR. Brig. Gen. Fred F. Castle Jr. is mobilization assistant to the Director, Air Force Strategic Planning, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for assisting the director in translating current and future Air Force capability requirements, force structure, and future Total Force into balanced and integrated programs. Additionally, the general assists in developing and implementing plans, policies and procedures necessary for effective use of Reserve component equipment funds in Air Force programs. General Castle began his Air Force Reserve career in March 1967. He completed basic military training and classes on avionics and navigational equipment, initially serving at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. In July 1971, he entered Officer Training School and was one of the first Reservists to be accepted into the undergraduate pilot training program, earning his pilot wings in November 1972. The general is a command pilot with more than 5,000 hours in the C-130A/B/E, C-5A/B, T-38, T-37 and T-41. He has commanded an airlift squadron as well as the Air Force Reserve's first Joint Reserve Unit at the Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va., and the composite Joint Reserve Unit for U.S. Joint Forces Command. Prior to his current assignment, General Castle was mobilization assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. EDUCATION 1970 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia 1973 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence 1977 Master of Science degree in electrical engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia 1989 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 1994 Air War College, by correspondence 2000 Defense Systems Management Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. 2001 Joint Chiefs of Staff Capstone Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. ASSIGNMENTS 1. March 1967 - November 1969, 932nd Military Airlift Wing, Scott AFB, Ill. 2. November 1969 - August 1971, 936th Tactical Airlift Wing, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. 3. August 1971 - November 1971, student, Officer Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas 4. November 1971 - December 1972, student, undergraduate pilot training, Laredo AFB, Texas 5. December 1972 - January 1978, C-130A pilot, 304th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. 6. January 1978 - January 1980, C-130B instructor pilot, 95th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Milwaukee, Wis. 7. January 1980 - January 1983, C-130B/E evaluator pilot, 337th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. 8. January 1983 - October 1987, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 439th Tactical Airlift Wing, Westover ARB, Mass. 9. October 1987 - October 1989, flight commander, 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover ARB, Mass. 10. October 1989 - December 1991, chief pilot, 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover ARB, Mass. 11. December 1991 - August 1994, operations officer, 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover ARB, Mass. 12. August 1994 - July 1996, Commander, 337th Airlift Squadron, Westover ARB, Mass. 13. July 1996 - June 1997, special assistant to the Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga. 14. June 1997 - July 1998, Commander, 953rd Reserve Support Squadron, U.S. Atlantic Command, Norfolk, Va. 15. July 1998 - November 1998, Commander, Joint Reserve Unit, U.S. Atlantic Command, Norfolk, Va. 16. November 1998 - June 2003, mobilization assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. 17. June 2003 - present, mobilization assistant to the Director, Air Force Strategic Planning, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command pilot Flight hours: More than 5,000 Aircraft flown: C-130A/B/E, C-5A/B, T-38, T-37 and T-41 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster Combat Readiness Medal with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Good Conduct Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three devices Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait) OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2005 - 2006 Who's Who in Executives and Professionals EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant Nov. 24, 1971 First Lieutenant Aug. 15, 1973 Captain Oct. 1, 1976 Major Nov. 24, 1985 Lieutenant Colonel June 14, 1990 Colonel May 1, 1996 Brigadier General April 2, 2001 (Current as of October 2005)