MAJOR GENERAL DONALD B. STOKES Maj. Gen. Donald B. Stokes is the mobilization assistant to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. The command organizes, trains, equips and maintains combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. ACC comprises more than 1,000 aircraft and approximately 103,000 active-duty military members and civilian personnel at 30 major installations in the United States, Panama, Iceland and Portugal. When mobilized, more than 65,500 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members, along with 662 aircraft, are assigned to ACC. The command provides nuclear forces for U.S. Strategic Command, theater air forces for five geographic unified commands (U.S. Atlantic Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. European Command and U.S. Pacific Command), as well as defense forces for the North American Aerospace Defense Command. General Stokes enlisted in the Nebraska Air National Guard in May 1963 and received a direct commission in September 1963. He is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours in tactical fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. After a 14-year career in the Air National Guard, the general transferred to the Air Force Reserve. He served as a fighter squadron commander and vice commander of a fighter wing prior to his selection to a mobilization assistant position. In his civilian capacity, he is a commercial airline captain and check pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767. EDUCATION 1963 Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, University of Nebraska 1980 Air Command and Staff College 1987 Air War College ASSIGNMENTS 1. September 1963 - January 1965, squadron executive officer, 173rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Neb. 2. January 1965 - February 1966, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams AFB, Ariz. 3. February 1966 - January 1972, RF-84F pilot, 173rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Lincoln ANGB, Neb. 4. January 1972 - April 1978, RF-4C flying safety officer, 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Lincoln ANGB, Neb. 5. April 1978 - August 1982, air operations officer, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii 6. August 1982 - September 1982, student, Air Force Reserve Operational Training Course (A-10), Barksdale AFB, La. 7. September 1982 - April 1986, A-10 flying safety officer, 442nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. 8. April 1986 - March 1987, Commander, 303rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. 9. March 1987 - December 1988, Vice Commander, 442nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. 10. December 1988 - October 1989, Deputy Commander for Resources, 442nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. 11. October 1989 - May 1990, Deputy Commander for Maintenance, 442nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. 12. May 1990 - September 1992, mobilization assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas 13. September 1992 - April 1997, mobilization assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 14. April 1997 - present, mobilization assistant to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va. FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command pilot Flight hours: More than 2,700 Aircraft flown: T-33, T-37, T-38, AT-38, RF-84F, RF-4C and A-10 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant Sept. 6, 1963 First Lieutenant Sept. 6, 1966 Captain Sept. 6, 1970 Major Sept. 6, 1977 Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 6, 1984 Colonel June 1, 1988 Brigadier General March 31, 1993 Major General Feb. 29, 1996 (Current as of March 1999)