Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere is Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides strategic deterrence, global strike capability, and combat support to USSTRATCOM and other geographic combatant commands. The command is comprised of more than 33,700 professionals operating at two numbered air forces; 11 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve wings; and the Joint Global Strike Operations Center. Weapons systems assigned to AFGSC include all U.S. Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles and bomber aircraft, UH-1N helicopters, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft, and the U.S. Air Force NC3 weapons system.
Gen. Bussiere is a 1985 distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC from Norwich University. He has held a variety of flying, staff and command assignments including the Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense and Current Operations, Joint Staff; Inspector General, Headquarters, AFGSC; Advanced Programs Division, Headquarters, Air Combat Command and duty as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad. He commanded the 325th Bomb Squadron, 13th Bomb Squadron, 509th Operations Group and the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. He also served as the Commander, Alaskan Command, United States Northern Command; Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Commander, Eighth Air Force; Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Commander, Joint Functional Component for Global Strike; Commander, Task Force 204, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Gen. Bussiere is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and the U.S. Army War College Advanced Strategic Arts Program. Prior to his current position, Gen. Bussiere served as Deputy Commander, USSTRATCOM.
Gen. Bussiere is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in the T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer and F-22 Raptor. He led F-15C combat missions during operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior and B-2 combat missions during operations Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1985 Bachelor of Science, Business Management, Norwich University, Northfield, Vt.
1990 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Master of Strategic Studies, Advanced Strategic Arts Program, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2008 Executive Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2012 Air Force Smart Operations for 21st Century Executive Leadership Course, University of Tennessee College of Business, Knoxville, Tenn.
2013 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2016 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Combined/Joint Force Special Operations Component Commanders Course, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2019 Pinnacle General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2021 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1986–March 1987, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. April 1987–September 1990, T-38 Instructor Pilot, Williams AFB, Ariz.
3. July 1990–August 1990, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
4. October 1990–May 1996, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Langley AFB, Va.
5. June 1996–June 1999, B-2A/T-38 Instructor Pilot, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
6. July 1999–June 2000, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 2000–July 2001, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. August 2001–September 2002, Chief, Advanced Survivability Technology Branch, Advanced Programs Division, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
9. October 2002–June 2004, Chief of Wing Safety, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
10. June 2004–September 2005, Commander, 325th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. September 2005–June 2006, Commander, 13th BS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
12. July 2006–June 2007, Advanced Strategic Arts Program, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
13. July 2007–May 2009, Commander, 509th Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
14. May 2009–May 2010, Deputy Chief of Staff, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad
15. July 2010–December 2010, Special Assistant to the Commander, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. December 2010–June 2012, Inspector General, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
17. June 2012–February 2014, Commander, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
18. March 2014–June 2014, Vice Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. June 2014–July 2016, Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. July 2016–October 2016, Special Assistant to the Commander, AFGSC, Barksdale AFB, La.
21. October 2016–October 2017, Commander, Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Barksdale AFB, La., and Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
22. October 2017–August 2018, Commander, Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, La.
23. August 2018–April 2020, Commander, Alaskan Command, United States Northern Command; Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
24. April 2020–December 2022, Deputy Commander, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb.
25. December 2022–present, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2009–May 2010, Deputy Chief of Staff, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad, as a colonel
2. March 2014–July 2014, Vice Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a brigadier general
3. June 2014–July 2016, Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a brigadier general and major general
4. October 2016–October 2017, Commander, Joint Functional Component for Global Strike, and Commander, Task Force 204, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as a major general
5. October 2017–August 2018, Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, La., as a major general
6. August 2018–April 2020, Commander, Alaskan Command, United States Northern Command and Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, as a lieutenant general
7. April 2020–December 2022, Deputy Commander, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a lieutenant general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: 3,405
Aircraft flown: T-38A, AT-38B, F-15 A/B/C/D, B-1B, B-2A and F-22
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with 'N' device
Kuwait Liberation Medal, government of Kuwait
Missouri Legion of Merit
Alaska Legion of Merit
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 19, 1985
First Lieutenant Oct. 19, 1987
Captain Oct. 19, 1989
Major Aug. 1, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2002
Colonel Dec. 1, 2006
Brigadier General Aug. 3, 2012
Major General June 5, 2015
Lieutenant General Aug. 24, 2018
General Dec. 7, 2022
(Current as of December 2022)