Brig. Gen. Mason R. Dula serves as the Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy at U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. He is responsible for the planning and execution of Tier 1 joint and multinational exercises, developing military relationships with foreign partners in coordination with U.S. interagency departments and the development of country-specific annual campaign plans.
Brig. Gen. Dula received his commission through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1998. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing level. His staff assignments include the Joint Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force staff and U.S. Special Operations command staff. He has led special tactics forces conducting nation-building and humanitarian operations in the Horn of Africa, and combat operations in support of operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Resolute Support.
Prior to his current assignment, the general was Deputy Commanding Officer of Special Operations Command-Central, MacDill AFB, Fla.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Military History, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by distance learning
2010 Master of Military History, Norwich University, Vt.
2011 Master of Military Science, United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Operational Science, U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting, Quantico, Va.
2016 Master of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1998–August 2000, Assistant Sortie General Flight Commander, 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
2. September 2000–October 2002, Student, Combat Control Pipeline, Various
3. October 2002–April 2005, Flight Commander, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. May 2005–July 2008, Flight Commander, 24th STS, Pope AFB, N.C.
5. July 2008–July 2010, Director of Operations, 24th STS, Pope AFB, N.C.
6. July 2010–June 2011, Student, USMC Command and Staff College, Quantico Va.
7. July 2011–June 2012, Student, USMC School of Advanced Warfighting, Quantico Va.
8. June 2012–June 2014, Commander, 23rd STS, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. July 2014–July 2015, Strategist, Checkmate, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. July 2015–June 2016, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2016–June 2017, Operations Officer, Special Operations Division, J-3, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2017–June 2018, A3-Director, Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
13. July 2018–July 2020, Commander, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope Army Airfield, N.C.
14. July 2020–July 2022, Commander, Special Warfare Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
15. August 2022–September 2023, Executive Officer to the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. October 2023–June 2024, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Command-Central, MacDill AFB, Fla.
17. June 2024–present, Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2016–June 2017, Operations Officer, Special Operations Division, J-3, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
2. August 2022–September 2023, Executive Officer to the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., as a colonel
3. October 2023–June 2024, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Command-Central, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a colonel
4. June 2024–present, Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a brigadier general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1998
First Lieutenant May 28, 2000
Captain May 28, 2002
Major Oct. 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 1, 2012
Colonel April 1, 2018
Brigadier General Frocked
(Current as of July 2024)