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