Brig. Gen. Janette L. Thode is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander at Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides strategic deterrence, global strike and combat support to U.S. Strategic Command and other geographic combatant commands. The command comprises more than 33,700 professionals operating two Numbered Air Forces, 11 active- duty Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve wings, the Joint Global Strike Operations Center and the Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Center. Weapons systems assigned to AFGSC include all U.S. Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles and bomber aircraft, UH-1N helicopters, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft and the U.S. Air Force NC3 weapons system.
Brig. Gen. Thode commissioned into the Air Force in May 1995 as a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps distinguished graduated from University of Miami, Florida. She completed Specialized Undergraduate Navigator training in 1996, serving the regular Air Force as a B-1 weapons system officer instructor and evaluator. She transitioned to the Air Force Reserve in 2005 where she served in a variety of staff and command assignments at the wing and Headquarters Air Force. She is a senior navigator with more than 1,700 B-1 hours and multiple deployments in support of operations Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Prior to her current assignment, she was the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.
2001 Squadron Office School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, B-1 Weapons Instructor Course, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
2008 Air Command and Staff College by seminar, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Master of Arts, Management and Leadership, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
2017 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2019 Joint Combined Warfare School – Hybrid, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2023 Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2024 Senior Leader Security Seminar, Montross, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1995–April 1996, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 1996–April 1997, Student, Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
3. April 1997–November 1997, Student, B-1 Initial Qualification Training, Dyess AFB, Texas
4. November 1997–September 2003, Chief, Mission Planning/Assistant Chief, Standardization Evaluation/Wing Electronic Warfare Officer/Flight Commander, Weapons and Tactics, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
5. September 2003–December 2005, Flight Commander, B-1 Information Systems, 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. December 2005–September 2006, Executive Officer, 96th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
7. September 2006–November 2013, Chief, Operations Group Tactics/Assistant Director of Operations/ Operations Officer/ Wing Inspector General, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
8. December 2013–July 2015, Inspector General, 340th Flying Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio Randolph, Texas
9. July 2015–October 2017, Commander, 433rd Training Squadron, JBSA Lackland, Texas
10. October 2017–January 2019, Acting Commander/Deputy Commander, 340th Flying Training Group, JBSA Randolph, Texas
11. January 2019–May 2020, Acting Chief of Strategic Assessments Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
12. May 2020–May 2022, Vice Wing Commander, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
13. June 2022–February 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Plans Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, JBSA Randolph, Texas
14. February 2024–March 2025, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
15. March 2025–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior navigator
Flight hours: more than 1,700
Aircraft flown: B–1, T-38, T-39, T-37, T-43
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver and bronze oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
2012 Lieutenant General John P. Flynn Award, Best Inspector General Complaints Resolution Program (AFRC) 2015 Reserve Officer Association Outstanding Non-Flying Unit Award
(Current as of April 2025)