Brig. Gen. Mark J. Estlund is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. He is the Principal Advisor to the Director on Air Force Reserve matters and provides total force perspective with respect to integrating cyberspace warfare capabilities into the joint fight through strategic vision, policy, guidance and resource advocacy.
Brig. Gen. Estlund was commissioned in 1995 from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps upon his graduation from the University of Minnesota. He has been awarded the Master Cyberspace Operators badge and the Basic Parachutist badge.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Estlund was Commander of the 960th Cyberspace Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, where he directed the operations of seven direct-reporting units and over 700 military and civilian personnel across four states.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts, Criminology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1996 Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Science, Computer Science, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2007 Advanced Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Joint and Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid, National Defense University, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1995–August 1996, Chief, Visual Information Branch, 28th Communications Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
2. August 1996–May 1998, Deputy Flight Commander, Mission Systems Flight, 28th Communications Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
3. May 1998–December 1999, Executive Officer, 86th Logistics Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. December 1999–June 2001, Flight Commander, Telecommunications Systems Flight, 86th Communications Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
5. June 2001–August 2003, Chief, Application Engineering, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
6. August 2003–September 2005, Air Force Institute of Technology Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
7. September 2005–September 2006, Mobile Command and Control Center Platform Manager, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
8. September 2006–July 2007, Chief, C4 Systems Support Branch, Joint Functional Combatant Command-Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
9. July 2007–March 2013, Joint Intelligence Operations Center Enterprise Architect, Western Regional Support Center, Defense Intelligence Agency, Offutt AFB, Neb.
10. March 2013–July 2018, Commander, 960th Network Warfare Flight, Offutt AFB, Neb.
11. July 2018–May 2019, Battle Watch Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
12. May 2019–July 2020, Chief of Staff, Global Operations Directorate, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
13. August 2020–August 2022, Commander, 960th Cyberspace Operations Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
14. August 2022–May 2023, Senior Individual Mobility Augmentee, Headquarters Air Force, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. May 2023–present, Mobilization Assistant, Headquarters Air Force, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2005–September 2006, Mobile Command and Control Center Platform Manager, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as a major
2. September 2006–July 2007, Chief, C4 Systems Support Branch, Joint Functional Combatant Command-Global Strike, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a major
3. July 2007–March 2013, Joint Intelligence Operations Center Enterprise Architect, Western Regional Support Center, Defense Intelligence Agency, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a lieutenant colonel
4. July 2018–May 2019, Battle Watch Commander, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a colonel
5. May 2019–July 2020, Chief of Staff, Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
(Current as of July 2025)