Brig. Gen. Robert “Rob” W. VanHoy is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Southwest Asia. As the Mobilization Assistant, the general assists with the development of contingency plans and the execution of air operations for the 20-nation U.S. Central Command area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia.
Brig. Gen. VanHoy earned his commission through Reserve Officer Training Corps from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1990. After serving 12 years on active duty, he transitioned into the Air Force Reserve in 2002. He has held a variety of flying, staff, and command assignments, including command of the 93rd Bomb Squadron, and the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He has participated as a Traditional Reservist, Air Reserve Technician as well as an Active Guard Reserve member. Brig. Gen. VanHoy is a command pilot with more than 5,800 flying hours in the B-52H, B-1B, C-130E/H, T-38, & T-37, and other civilian aircraft, including combat time in both the C-130 Hercules and B-52H Stratofortress in support of operations Southern Watch, Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, Joint Forge, and Enduring Freedom.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. VanHoy was the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Strategy, Plans and Programs, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
1991 Logistics Readiness and Management Course, Lowery Air Force Base, Colo.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Masters of Arts, Military Studies, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2016 Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 Senior Leader Nuclear Management Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2017 Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2018 Joint Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff Command, Norfolk, Va., by hybrid
2018 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2019 School of Strategic Studies, Nuclear 400 Course
2020 School of Strategic Studies, Nuclear Command, Control and Communication Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1991–March 1992, Logistics Officer in Charge of Material Storage and Distribution Supervisor, 314th Air Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
2. March 1992–August 1993, Officer in Charge of Aircraft Maintenance Operations Support, 314th AW, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
3. August 1993–September 1994, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 85th Student Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. September 1994–January 1995, Student C-130E, Combat Crew Training School, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. January 1995–September 1995, C-130H pilot, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas (deployed Seeb, Oman, Operation Southern Watch)
6. September 1995–April 1998, C-130H pilot, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas (deployed King Abdulaziz Air Base, Saudi Arabia Operation Southern Watch, deployed Ramstein Air Base, GR Operation Joint Endeavor)
7. April 1998–August 1999, C-130H Aircraft Commander, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas (deployed Ramstein AB, GR Operation Joint Guard)
8. August 1999–January 2000, C-130H Instructor pilot, 40th AS, Dyess AFB, Texas (deployed Ramstein AB, GR, Operation Joint Forge)
9. January 2000–January 2001, C-130H Instructor Pilot, 317th Airlift Wing Operational Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
10. January 2001–August 2002, C-130E Instructor Formal Training Unit, 62nd AS, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
11. August 2002–July 2007, B-52 Aircraft Commander, 93rd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La. (deployed Anderson AFB, GU Operation Enduring Freedom and Continuous Bomber Presence)
12. July 2007–September 2010, B-52 Evaluator Pilot, 93rd BS, Barksdale AFB, La. (deployed Anderson AFB, GU Continuous Bomber Presence)
13. September 2010–March 2012, Director of Scheduling, 93rd BS, Barksdale AFB, La.
14. March 2012–May 2014, Director of Operations, 93rd BS, Barksdale AFB, La.
15. May 2014–June 2016, Commander, 93rd BS, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. June 2016–July 2017, Reserve Advisor to the Commander 8th Air Force/Air Force Strategic, Barksdale AFB, La.
17. January 2017–July 2017, Vice Commander, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
18. July 2017–March 2019, Commander, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
19. March 2022–May 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Southwest Asia
20. May 2024–present, Special Assistant to the Chief of Air Force Reserve, Washington, D.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,800 including combat and combat support time
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, C-130E/H, B-52H and B-1 and multiple civilian aircraft
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with with nine oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service with seven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Special Duty Ribbon
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ device
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
(Current as of June 2024)