Maj. Gen. Pete M. Fesler is the Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. As the Deputy Director, he is responsible for supporting the execution of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America, to include the Canadian, Alaskan and continental U.S. NORAD Regions within the bi-national command. Maj. Gen. Fesler is also the lead for USNORTHCOM and NORAD Homeland Defense/Continental Defense Cross Functional Team. In this role, he leads the development of a comprehensive design for bi-national, all-domain defense of North America.
Maj. Gen. Fesler graduated in 1994 from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science, and earned his commission through ROTC the same year. He is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and is a Distinguished Graduate of both the Naval Postgraduate School and National War College.
Maj. Gen. Fesler has served in a variety of flying and non-flying operational, educational and staff assignments, including multiple tours in both the F-15C and F-22A. He has commanded at both squadron and wing levels. Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Fesler was stationed at Langley AFB, Virginia, where he commanded the most historic wing in the U.S. Air Force, the 1st Fighter Wing.
Maj. Gen. Fesler is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and a command pilot with more than 2,200 hours, primarily in the F-15C and F-22A. He has participated in multiple deployments, numerous joint and coalition exercises, and has flown more than 50 combat missions in the skies over Iraq.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2006 Master of Arts, Security Studies, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2006 U.S. Naval War College in Seminar, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2007 Master of Arts, Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Science, Security Studies, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1994–November 1996, Student, Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. December 1996–June 1997, Student Pilot, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. June 1997–February 2000, F-15C Flight Lead and Chief, Systems Integration Section, 390th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
4. March 2000–March 2001, Flight Commander and Fighter Duty Officer, 604th Air Support Operations Squadron, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea
5. March 2001–June 2003, F-15C Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
6. December 2003–June 2005, F-15C Instructor Pilot and Weapons Officer, 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
7. July 2005–June 2006, Student, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
8. July 2006–June 2007, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2007–August 2008, Aide-de-Camp to the 18th Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. January 2009–February 2010, Director of Operations, 94th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
11. March 2010–November 2011, Commander, 27th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
12. December 2011–June 2012, Deputy Commander, 1st Operations Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
13. July 2012–June 2013, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2013–May 2014, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow and Chief of Staff, Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. May 2014–June 2015, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow and Assistant Deputy Director, J5 Western Hemisphere Politico Military Affairs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. July 2015–June 2017, Commander, 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
17. July 2017–July 2018, Vice Director of Operations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
18. July 2018–August 2021, Deputy Director of Operations, NORAD, Peterson AFB, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2013–May 2014, Chief of Staff, Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
2. May 2014–June 2015, Assistant Deputy Director, J5 Western Hemisphere Politico Military Affairs and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. July 2017–July 2018, Vice Director of Operations, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., as a colonel
4. July 2018–August 2021, Deputy Director of Operations, NORAD, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a colonel, brigadier general and major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2,200
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38A/B, T-41, F-15A/B/C/D, F-22A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Canadian Meritorious Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 9, 1994
First Lieutenant June 9, 1996
Captain June 16, 1998
Major Feb. 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2009
Colonel Oct. 1, 2013
Brigadier General Oct. 12, 2018
Major General Aug. 2, 2021
(Current as of August 2021)