Brig. Gen. Akshai M. Gandhi is the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff for formulating policy supporting air, irregular warfare, counterproliferation, homeland defense, weather and cyber operations. Brig. Gen. Gandhi determines operational requirements, capabilities and training necessary to support national security objectives and military strategy.
Brig. Gen. Gandhi received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1990. He is a command pilot with 4600 flying hours in the F-16. He has flown more than 750 combat hours in operations Deliberate Forge, Allied Force, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. Brig. Gen. Gandhi has served in various command and supervisory capacities at the squadron, group, and wing levels. He served on the Air Staff in the Air National Guard Plans and Programs Directorate, as an Air National Guard Assistant and Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander for the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command Continental Region/1st Air Force, and as adjunct faculty for the Reserve Component National Security Course, College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Gandhi was the Commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, Astronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1998 Joint Firepower Control Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Master of Military Operational Art and Science with Highest Academic Distinction, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Systems Thinking Seminar, Arlington, Va.
2020 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2021 Joint Task Force Commander’s Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2021 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2022 Dual Status Commanders Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2022 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2022 Combined Forces Air Component Commanders Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 National Security Management Course, Syracuse University Maxwell School, Syracuse, N.Y.
2023 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1990–October 1991, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1991–June 1994, Flight Test Engineer & Executive Officer, 2872nd, 514th, 15th Test Squadrons, Hill AFB, Utah
3. June–July 1994, AT-38 Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. August 1994–May 1995, F-16C Student, 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. May 1995–October 1997, Standardization/Evaluation and Scheduling Officer, Chief of Training, 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
6. November 1997–November 1999, Plans Officer, Assistant Wing Weapons Officer, Flight Commander, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
7. November 1999–September 2001, Group Standardization/Evaluation Officer, Flight Commander, 524th Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
8. September 2001–June 2002, Scheduling Officer, 157th Fighter Squadron, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.
9. June 2002–September 2002, Executive Officer to the Wing Commander, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan
10. September 2002–June 2007, Assistant Weapons Officer, Chief of Scheduling, 157th Fighter Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
11. July 2007–February 2010, Chief of Standardization/Evaluation, Executive Officer to the Wing Commander, 169th Operations Group, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
12. February 2010–June 2011, Program Manager, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
13. June 2011–June 2012, Force Planner, National Guard Bureau, Directorate of Plans and Programs (A8), Air National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews AFB, Md.
14. June 2012–June 2013, Chief of Advanced Programs, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
15. June 2013–May 2016, Commander, 157th Fighter Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
16. May 2016–June 2018, Vice Commander, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
17. June 2018–September 2021, Commander, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
18. September 2021–December 2021, Assistant Adjutant General – Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Columbia, S.C
19. October 2021–May 2023, dual-hatted as Air National Guard Assistant to Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region – 1st Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
20. December 2021–May 2023, Chief of Staff – Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Columbia, S.C.
21. May 2023–October 2023, Commander, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
22. November 2023–present, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-4E/G, RF-4C, AT-38, E-11A, KC-10A and F-16B/C/D (Blocks 15-52)
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal with two service stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars
(Current as of February 2024)