Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks is the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He commands the 4,300-member Cadet Wing and more than 200 Air Force and civilian personnel. He guides military, leadership, character development, Basic Cadet Training and Expeditionary Skills Training for the Air Force Cadet Wing in addition to providing facilities and logistical support.
Brig. Gen. Marks earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 and his pilot wings from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Brig. Gen. Marks has served as a T-1A instructor pilot (at both the undergraduate and graduate training levels) and flight examiner, an E-3B/C instructor pilot and flight examiner, an Air Force Intern, a staff officer on multiple joint staffs, and has commanded at the squadron and wing levels.
Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
Brig. Gen. Marks is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the T-3, T-37, T-1A, E-3B/C/G, RC-135S/U/V, TC-135W, OC-135B, and WC-135C aircraft.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 Master’s of Science, Organizational Management, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2002 Intermediate Developmental Education, Air Force Intern Program, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
2007 Intermediate Developmental Education, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Senior Developmental Education, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Distinguished Graduate, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2015 Master’s of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft. Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2017 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2024 Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1996–February 1997, Assistant Executive Officer / Special Projects Officer, 34th Training Wing, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. February 1997–February 1998, Student, Specialized UPT, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
3. February 1998–July 1998, Student, Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. July 1998–May 2001, T-1A Instructor Pilot, Squadron Programmer, Check Pilot, 32nd Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
5. June 2001–June 2002, Air Force Intern, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. July 2002–July 2004, Assistant Flight Commander, E-3 Aircraft Commander, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
7. July 2004–March 2005, Flight Commander, E-3 Instructor Pilot, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
8. March 2005–September 2006, Wing Executive Officer, E-3 Instructor Pilot, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
9. September 2006–November 2007, Assistant Director of Operations, E-3 Evaluator Pilot, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
10. November 2007–June 2010, Observer / Trainer, J7 Joint Warfighting Center, United States Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Va.
11. June 2010–May 2012, Director of Operations, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
12. May 2012–May 2014, Commander, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
13. May 2014–June 2015, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2015–June 2016, Executive Officer, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2016–July 2017, Operations Planner, Force Management Division, J-32 ISR/CCA, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. July 2017–June 2019, Vice Commander, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
17. June 2019–June 2021, Commander, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.
18. June 2021–June 2022, Director, SECAF/CSAF Executive Action Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. June 2022–June 2023, Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. June 2023–present, Commandant of Cadets, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
SUMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2007–June 2010, Observer/Trainer, J7 Joint Warfighting Center, United States Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Va., as a major
2. May 2014–June 2015, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
3. June 2015–June 2016, Executive Officer, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
4. June 2016–July 2017, Operations Planner, Force Management Division, J-32 ISR/CCA, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot, basic parachutist
Flight Hours: more than 3,400
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-1A, E-3B/C/G, RC-135S/U/V, TC-135W, OC-135B, and WC-135C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal
Distinguished Graduate, Pilot Instructor Training, Class 98-08, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
Daughters of the American Revolution Student Instructor Pilot of the Year, 1998
Carl Crane Award for Top Student Instructor Pilot of the Year for all Trainers, 1998
Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Class 00-G, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
19AF Instructor Pilot of the Year, 2000
Distinguished Graduate, Joint Targeting School, 2008
Distinguished Graduate, National War College, Washington, D.C., 2015
Dean’s Award, National War College, Washington, D.C., 2015
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1996
First Lieutenant May 29, 1998
Captain May 29, 2000
Major May 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2010
Colonel March 1, 2017
Brigadier General June 2, 2023
(Current as of January 2025)