Maj. Gen. James D. Cleet is the Special Assistant to Commander, U.S. Northern Command and North America Aerospace Defense Command. He serves as the advisor to the Commander, USNORTHCOM and NORAD, on all policies, programs and operational matters affecting the National Guard, ensuring the seamless integration of Guard capabilities into homeland defense, aerospace warning, and civil support missions. In this capacity, he acts as a vital liaison between the Combatant Command, the National Guard Bureau, and state Adjutants General to synchronize force readiness and coordinate the employment of National Guard assets across North America.
Maj. Gen. Cleet entered the Air Force in 1991 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and was then selected as Lead Flight Test Engineer on the B-2A Stealth Bomber. General Cleet completed F-16 training in April 1996. Subsequently, he served as an operational F-16 pilot with assignments in PACAF, USAFE, ACC, AFCENT and the ANG while supporting operations Southern Watch, Desert Fox, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. Maj. Gen. Cleet joined the Minnesota National Guard in August 2004. He has served as Director of Operations and Squadron Commander in the 148th Fighter Wing, and Operations Group and Wing Commander at the 133d Airlift Wing. Prior to his current assignment he was the Deputy Director of Operations at United States European Command.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1997 Squadron Officers School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1999 Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Joint Combined Warfighting School, Hybrid, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2020 Wing Commander Executive Level Response Course, by correspondence
2020 U.S. Air Force Senior Leaders’ Mission Generation Course, by correspondence
2021 ANG Commander Leadership Course, Washington, D.C.
2021 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Washington, D.C.
2022 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2023 Level IV Antiterrorism Executive Seminar, Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Va.
2024 Senior Leaders Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, N.Y.
2024 Senior Leaders Course, Baltic Defense College, Riga, Latvia
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1991–October 1992, Student Pilot Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1992–March 1993, B2A Human Factors Engineer, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
3. March 1993–June 1995, B2A Lead Flight Test Engineer, 422nd T&E Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
4. June 1995–February 1996, Student, F-16 RTU, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. February 1996–March 1996, Asst. Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 13th FS, Misawa Air Base, Japan
6. March 1996–October 1997, Chief of Plans and Mobility, 13th FS, Misawa AB, Japan
7. October 1997–July 1999, Flight Commander, 35th FS, Kunsan AB, Korea
8. July 1999–December 1999, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. December 1999–November 2000, Chief Weapons and Tactics, 35th FS, Kunsan AB, Korea
10. November 2000–April 2002, Chief Weapons, Tactics & Intelligence, 22nd FS, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
11. April 2002–August 2003, Chief Wing Weapons and Tactics, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
12. August 2003–August 2004, Chief Wing Inspections, 52nd FW, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
13. August 2004–November 2006, Chief Wing Weapons and Tactics, 148 FW, Duluth, Minn.
14. November 2007–May 2008, Fighter Enhancement Program Manager & Weapons Officer, 148 FW, Duluth, Minn.
15. May 2008–August 2011, Director of Operations, 179 FS, 148 FW, Duluth, Minn.
16. August 2011–February 2014, Commander, 148th Operational Support Squadron, Duluth, Minn.
17. February 2014–February 2015, Director of Operations-Air/A3, MNANG, JFHQ, St. Paul, Minn.
18. February 2015–September 2016, Air Operations Officer, 133rd Operations Group, St. Paul, Minn.
19. September 2016–September 2018, Commander, 133rd Operations Group, St. Paul, Minn.
20. September 2018–August 2019, Vice Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn.
21. August 2019–June 2023, Commander, 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, Minn.
22. June 2023–November 2025, Deputy Director of Operations for Information Operations, Cyber Operations, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, and Nuclear C3, USEUCOM, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany
23. December 2025–present, Special Assistant to Commander, USNORTHCOM and NORAD for National Guard Matters, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Co.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,900 hours
Aircraft flown: C-130H3, F-16C+/D/CJ/CM and T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with Valor and nine oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
(Current as of April 2026)