Brig. Gen. Timothy J. Cathcart is a Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, and is assigned to the Total Force-Continuum (TF-C) office, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. On behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Total Force-Continuum Office works to identify the appropriate balance of active and reserve components across missions and platforms; and to reduce legal, organizational, policy, and cultural barriers to a more fully integrated Air Force.
General Cathcart enlisted in the Alaska Air National Guard in 1985, and received his commission in 1990 through the Academy of Military Science. Upon completion of navigator training, he returned to the Alaska Air National Guard as a rescue navigator on the HC-130 aircraft, and has executed more than 75 real-world rescue missions. General Cathcart has served in a variety of operational, training, command, Air Staff, and joint positions.
Prior to his current position, General Cathcart was the commander, I.G. Brown Training and Education Center. He was responsible for a national-level force development center consisting of a staff and student body from all three Air Force components. Typically, the center hosts more than 4,000 service members for in-resident Enlisted Professional Military Education and Professional Continuing Education programs, along with tens of thousands more via blended/distance learning programs. He is a Master Navigator with more than 2,000 hours of flight time.
EDUCATION
1990 Associate in Applied Science, Avionics Systems, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1993 Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with minors in Computer Science and Statistics, University of Alaska, Anchorage
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1998 Master of Business Administration, University of Alaska, Anchorage
2000 Master of Science, Computer Science, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
2001 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2005 Chief Information Officer and Information Assurance certifications, Information Resources Management College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2006 Industrial College of the Armed Forces (War College), Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2006 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2008 Doctor of Philosophy degree, Science and Technology Studies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg
2009 Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander Training Course (JCTC), U.S. Northern Command, Colo.
2011 Air National Guard Commanders Development Course, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
2012 Level IV Anti-Terrorism Executive Seminar, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
2014 General Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1990 – May 1992, Student Navigator, Mather AFB, Calif.; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2. May 1992 – November 1997, Rescue Navigator, 210th Rescue Squadron, Kulis ANGB, Ala.
3. November 1997 – September 2000, Senior Controller, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, Fort Richardson, Ala.
4. October 2000 – October 2002, Mobility Forces Action Officer, Air and Space Operations Directorate, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C.
5. October 2002 –October 2003, Chief, Mobility Forces Branch, Air and Space Operations Directorate, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C.
6. October 2003 – July 2005, Chief, Operations Support Branch, Air and Space Operations Directorate, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C.
7. July 2005 – June 2006, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
8. June 2006 – July 2008, National Guard Readiness Adviser, Operations Directorate (J-3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. July 2008 – March 2011, Chief, Joint Training and Education Division (NGB-J72), Joint Doctrine, Training, and Force Development Directorate, National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
10. March 2011 – July 2011, Deputy Director for Force Development (J7), Domestic Operations and Force Development Directorate (J3/7), National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2011 – May 2014, Commander, I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
12. May 2014 – present, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2006 – August 2008, National Guard Readiness Adviser, Operations Directorate (J-3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. August 2008 – March 2011, Chief, Joint Training and Education Division (NGB-J72), Joint Doctrine, Training, and Force Development Directorate, National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Washington, D.C, as a colonel
3. March 2011 – July 2011, Deputy Director for Force Development (J7), Domestic Operations and Force Development Directorate (J3/7), National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Washington, D.C, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master navigator
Flight hours: More than 2,000
Aircraft flown: C-130E, C-130H, HC-130N, HC-130P
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Longevity Service with five oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze Hourglass and bronze 'M' device
Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star
Air Force Training Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 2, 1990
First Lieutenant Dec. 6, 1992
Captain Jan. 22, 1995
Major May 21, 1999
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2003
Colonel June 19, 2009
Brigadier General May 25, 2014
(Current as of September 2014)