BRIGADIER GENERAL LES A. KODLICK Brig. Gen. Les A. Kodlick is the Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. In addition to advising the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force on public affairs matters, he is responsible for developing and executing global communication processes to build understanding and support for the Air Force. He provides guidance and support for 5,500 active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen and civilians in their mission to broadcast internal Air Force information, conduct community and media relations, manage integrated marketing, and execute security review programs. General Kodlick received his commission in 1984 through the Air Force ROTC program at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. He has served in wing, numbered air force, major command, Air Staff and joint staff positions, and has been a commander three times, including a combat tour at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Among his many assignments, he worked in New York City as an account executive for Hill & Knowlton, Inc., an international public relations firm, as part of the Air Force's Education with Industry program. During a previous Pentagon tour he was the Public Affairs adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force. General Kodlick served as a National Defense Fellow and an Associate at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. EDUCATION 1984 Bachelor of Science degree in communication, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff 1987 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 1993 Master of Arts degree in communication, University of Northern Colorado 1999 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1999 Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2001 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. 2001 Air War College, by correspondence 2006 National Defense Fellow and Associate, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. ASSIGNMENTS 1. September 1984 - April 1985, student, undergraduate pilot training, 64th Student Squadron, Reese AFB, Texas 2. April 1985 - December 1987, Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs, Headquarters Air Force ROTC, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 3. January 1988 - March 1991, public affairs officer, Media Relations and Community Relations Divisions, later, Deputy Chief, Management Division, Office of Public Affairs, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas 4. April 1991 - June 1994, Chief, Public Affairs, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo. 5. August 1994 - June 1995, account executive, Education with Industry Program, Hill & Knowlton, Inc., New York City, N.Y. 6. August 1995 - May 1998, national news media press desk officer, Media Relations Division; senior account executive, National Affairs Division; and public affairs adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 7. August 1998 - June 1999, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 8. August 1999 - July 2001, Director of Public Affairs, Alaskan Command, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska 9. July 2001 - June 2002, executive officer to the Commander, Alaskan Command, Alaska NORAD Region, and 11th Air Force; and Headquarters Squadron Section Commander, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska 10. June 2002 - June 2004, Commander, 62nd Mission Support Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash. (October 2003 - March 2004, Commander, 455th Expeditionary Support Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan) 11. June 2004 - June 2005, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 12. June 2005 - July 2006, National Defense Fellow and Associate, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 13. July 2006 - December 2007, Director, Public Affairs, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. 14. December 2007 - May 2009, Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. 15. May 2009 - present, Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. August 1999 - July 2001, Director of Public Affairs, Alaskan Command, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, as a major and lieutenant colonel 2. July 2001 - June 2002, executive officer to the Commander, Alaskan Command, Alaska NORAD Region, and 11th Air Force; and Headquarters Squadron Section Commander, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, as a lieutenant colonel 3. December 2007 - May 2009, Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a colonel MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit 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 Afghanistan Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2010 "Best Of" Silver Anvil Award for Excellence in Issues Management, Public Relations Society of America 2010 Silver Anvil Award for Excellence in Issues Management, PRSA EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant July 21, 1984 First Lieutenant July 21, 1986 Captain July 21, 1988 Major June 1, 1996 Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2001 Colonel Aug. 1, 2006 Brigadier General Jan. 28, 2011 (Current as of May 2014)