BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANK. H. STOKES Brigadier General Frank H. Stokes serves as the Deputy Director, Strategy, Plans and Programs Directorate, United States Africa Command, Stuttgart-Mohringen, Germany. In this capacity, General Stokes assists the Director in crafting policy and strategy; integrating international and African partner military efforts on the continent; and conducting a wide range of U.S. interagency and international engagements to achieve the commander’s priorities throughout the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. Gen. Stokes entered the Air Force as a graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Minnesota in 1983. While there, he earned both the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Gen. Stokes served in multiple locations on active duty as a mission commander and instructor pilot in the F-15. In 1991 he transitioned to the F-16 and joined the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard. Gen. Stokes accepted his first command position in 1988, and has continued to lead at the squadron, group and wing levels to include deployed command in Afghanistan. He is a command pilot with more than 4,400 flying hours in the F-15 and F-16. EDUCATION 1983 University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Science with distinction, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, Minneapolis 1984 University of Minnesota, Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, Minneapolis 1988 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence 1997 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2000 Air War College, by correspondence 2003 Maintenance Officer Qualifying Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas 2005 Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Level IV, Tysons Corner, Va. 2006 Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Col. 2013 Joint Task Force Commander’s Training Course, Peterson Air Force Base, Col. 2014 Syracuse University, National Securities Studies Management Course, Syracuse, N.Y. 2014 Harvard Kennedy School, General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Cambridge, Mass. ASSIGNMENTS 1. May 1984–May 1985, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas 2. May 1985–August 1985, Fighter Lead-in Training, 479th Tactical Training Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. 3. August 1985–January 1986, F-15 Initial Qualification Training, 405th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. 4. January 1986–January 1988, F-15 Pilot, Electronic Combat Pilot, 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. 5. January 1988–October 1988, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. 6. October 1988–May 1990, Flight Commander and F-15 Instructor Pilot, 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. 7. May 1990-April 1991, Flight Commander and F-15 Instructor Pilot, 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. 8. April 1991–April 1993, F-16 Pilot, 179th Fighter Squadron, Duluth, Minnesota 9. April 1993–December 1994, Weapons & Tactics Officer, F-16 Instructor Pilot, 148th Operations Group, Duluth, Minn. 10. January 1995–October 1997, Air Operations Officer, Flight Commander, 148th Operations Group, Duluth, Minn. 11. November 1997–October 1998, Operations Officer, 179th Fighter Squadron, Duluth, Minn. 12. November 1998–October 2000, Commander, 179th Fighter Squadron, Duluth, Minn. 13. November 2000–October 2002, Vice Commander, 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. 14. November 2002–January 2007, Commander, 148th Maintenance Group, Duluth, Minn. 15. January 2007–May 2007, Commander, 455th Maintenance Group, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan 16. May 2007-November 2007, Commander, 148th Maintenance Group, Duluth, Minn. 17. November 2007-March 2009, Vice Commander, 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn. 18. March 2009–October 2015, Commander, 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth, Minn 19. October 2015–April 2016, Chief Current Operations, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va. 20. April 2016–present, Deputy Director, Strategy Plans and Programs Directorate, Unites States Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight Hours: more than 4,400 Aircraft Flown: F-15, F-16, T-37, T-38 Pilot Wings earned: Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) Air Medal Air Force Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) Air Force Achievement Medal Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) Combat Readiness Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star) Afghan Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star) Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border) Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and “M” Device) Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon Florida Meritorious Service Medal Minnesota State Service Medal (with 3 devices) OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS: 148th Fighter Wing Pilot of the Year Distinguished Graduate, F-15 Initial Training Top Gun: F-15 Initial Training, 405 TTW, and 49 TFW Flying Training Award, Undergraduate Pilot Training Distinguished Graduate, Undergraduate Pilot Training EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION: Second Lieutenant, 24 June 1983 First Lieutenant, 10 December 1985 Captain, 10 December 1987 Major, 14 October 1994 Lieutenant Colonel, 22 November 1998 Colonel, 30 January 2003 Brigadier General, 21 April 2016