Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Nester is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. He advises on all matters, policies and programs relating to the direct operational planning, training and command and control functions to deploy and employ regular and Reserve component combat forces, including more than 1,900 aircraft in support of U.S. security objectives.
Brig. Gen. Nester received his commission from Officer Candidate School in February 1992 and entered the Air Force Reserve subsequently at Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana. He has deployed to a variety of other combat operations in support of national objectives. Brig. Gen. Nester has served in various operations capacities at the squadron, group and Headquarters Air Force levels. He has flown combat missions in operations Deny Flight, Southern Watch, Northern Watch and Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
Prior to his role as Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Brig. Gen. Nester was Mobilization Assistant to 1 AF/CC. In this capacity, he acted as a Deputy Combined Forces Component Commander for North American Aerospace Defense Command/U.S. Northern Command/1st Air Force and was responsible for facilitating military assets in defense of the homeland. Brig. Gen. Nester is a command pilot with more than 3000 hours in the A-10C Thunderbolt II.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2002 Air to Ground Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Strategic Studies, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa., by correspondence
2023 Combined Forces Air Component Command School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Air Force Continuous Improvement Course, Duke University, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1992–February 1993, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
2. May 1993–August 1993, A-10 Student Pilot, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
3. August 1993–August 1994, A-10 Pilot, 45th Fighter Squadron, Grissom AFB, Ind. (July 1994, Operation Deny Flight, Aviano Air Base, Italy)
4. August 1994–August 2001, A-10 Pilot, Aircrew Flight Equipment Officer, 303rd Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (April 1995 and December 1996–January 1997, Operation Deny Flight, October 1998, Southern Watch, and January 2000, Northern Watch, Aviano AB, Italy, Al Jaber, Kuwait, Incirlik AB, Turkey)
5. August 2001–August 2008, A-10 Flight Commander, 303rd FS, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (February 2003–February 2004, Operation Iraqi Freedom and May 2006–June 2006, May 2008–June 2008 and December 2011–March 2012, Operation Enduring Freedom, Tallil AB, Iraq, Kirkuk AB, Iraq, and Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
6. August 2008–September 2011, A-10 Assistant Deputy of Operations, 303rd FS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
7. August 2011–September 2013, Commander, 303rd FS, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
8. September 2013–September 2016, Deputy Group Commander, 442nd Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
9. September 2016–September 2018, J7 and J35 Senior Joint Operations Officer, Suffolk, Va.
10. September 2018–December 2020, Vice Wing Commander, 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. January 2021–November 2021, Mobilization Assistant to Pacific Air Forces A3, Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
12. December 2021–November, Commander, 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
13. November 2023–March 2025, Mobilization Assistant to 1st AF/CC, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
14. March 2025–present, Mobilization Assistant to ACC A3, Langley AFB, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,000
Aircraft flown: T-38, A-10 and OA-10
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with silver and four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal
(Current as of April 2025)