Brig. Gen. Kirsten G. Aguilar is the Commandant, The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. The Eisenhower School is responsible for educating and preparing joint warfighters and other national security professionals for strategic leadership roles analyzing national security and resource strategy. Under the guidance of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, she leads the faculty and staff in preparing senior military officers, government civilians, select private sector fellows and international officers for the national security challenges of the 21st century.
Brig. Gen. Aguilar entered the Air Force in 1997 as a Distinguished Graduate of the University of New Hampshire’s ROTC program. She has held several leadership and staff positions at the installation, Air Staff and joint levels and deployed in support of operation Iraqi Freedom. She has completed multiple command tours at the squadron, group and wing level and is a graduate of the Naval Command and Staff College and a Distinguished Graduate of The Eisenhower School.
Prior to her current position, the general was the Director, Military Force Management Policy, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and the Classics, University of New Hampshire, Durham
2003 Master of Arts, Public Administration, University of Maryland, College Park
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
2016 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2016 Distinguished Graduate, The Eisenhower School, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 National Security Leadership Program, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2019 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill
2024 Capstone, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1997–September 1998, Officer in Charge, 325th Mission Support Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. September 1998–June 1999, Chief Customer Support, 325th Mission Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. June 1999–September 2001, Squadron Section Commander, 100th Maintenance Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
4. September 2001–May 2002, Chief, Relocations, Employment and Training, 100th Mission Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
5. May 2002–July 2005, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
6. July 2005–April 2006, Manpower and Organization Flight Commander, 36th Mission Support Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
7. April 2006–June 2007, Military Personnel Flight Commander, 36th Mission Support Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
8. June 2007–February 2009, Force Support Officer, Assignments, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
9. February 2009–July 2010, Executive Officer to the Commander, AFPC, Randolph AFB, Texas
10. July 2010–June 2011, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
11. September 2011–July 2013, Commander, 647th Force Support Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
12. August 2013–July 2015, Chief, Retirements, Separations and Force Management Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air force, Arlington, Va.
13. July 2015–June 2016, Student, The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense university, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2016–June 2018, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii
15. June 2018–July 2020, Commander, 21st Mission Support Group, Peterson AFB, Colo.
16. July 2020–June 2022, Commander, 673rd Air Base Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
17. July 2022–June 2025, Director of Military Force Management Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, HAF, Arlington, Va.
18. June 2025–present, Commandant, The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2016–July 2018, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a colonel
2. June 2025–present, Commandant, The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., as a brigadier general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Navy Commendation Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
(Current as of August 2025)