Brig. Gen. James W. Hart, Jr. is the mobilization assistant t the Air Force Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for providing public affairs policy and communications strategies and tactics to senior Air Force leadership on critical issues including operations, force structure, readiness, recruiting, transformation and personnel.
General Hart entered the Air Force in 1958 as an Aviation Cadet and was assigned to pilot training class 60-C. He received a direct commission in the United States Air Force Reserves through the Outstanding Airman Commissioning Program. He has an extensive background in public affairs and communications and has served at the major command, wing, and headquarters levels in both the Air Force and Air National Guard. His first assignment was as an Information Specialist with the 32nd NORAD/CONAD Division, Headquarters 14th Air Force, Air Defense Command, Gunter AFB, Ala. He then became Chief of Public Affairs for the 187th Tactical Fighter Group, Alabama Air National Guard, then Director of Public Affairs, state headquarters, Alabama Air National Guard.
Before being assigned as mobilization assistant to the Air Force Director of Public Affairs, General Hart served as the individual mobilization augmentee to the Director of Public Affairs, Lowry Technical Training Center, Lowry AFB, Colorado, the Chief of Community Relations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. While serving at Lowry AFB, he was selected as the outstanding reservist for Air Training Command. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm he was called to active duty to support the needs of senior Air Force leadership during that critical period of time. While assigned to the Air Force Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, he has served as mobilization assistant to six Directors.
EDUCATION
1958 Associate of Arts degree in business, Chipola College, Marianna, Fla.
1967 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1970 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1973 Juris Doctor, University of Alabama Law School, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
1982 Executive MBA, MIT, Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, Mass.
1984 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1958-September 1958, Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. October 1958-April 1959, 3300th Pilot Training Group, Graham Air Base, Marianna, Fla.
3. May 1959-September 1959, 3505th Pilot Training Wing, Greenville AFB, Miss.
4. October 1959–September 1961, 354th Fighter Wing, Tactical Air Command, Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C.
5. October 1961-November 1965, 32nd NORAD/CONAD Region, 14th Air Force, Gunter AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
6. December 1965-September 1975, 187th Tactical Fighter Group, Alabama Air National Guard, Dannelly Field, Montgomery, Ala.
7. October 1975- November 1977, Headquarters, Alabama Air National Guard, Montgomery, Ala.
8. December 1977–April 1981, Headquarters, Lowry Technical Training Center, Lowry AFB, Denver, Colo.
9. May 1981–May 1982, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Deputy Chief of Community Relations, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
10. June 1982-June 1988, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Air Force Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. July 1988–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Air Force Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Outstanding Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee, Air Training Command
Outstanding Young Man of America, United States Jaycees
Four Golden Anvil Awards, Public Relations Society of America
Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant April 9, 1965
Captain April 9, 1967
Major October 1, 1971
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 1975
Colonel May 1, 1980
Brigadier General May 1, 1990
(Current as of April 1995)