Retiring effective May 20, 2012
Brig. Gen. Patrick A. Cord is the Deputy Director, Air Force Strategic Planning, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. he is responsible for formulating, reviewing and evaluating policy, plans, programs, funding, and investment procedures used for developing concepts, goals, principles, and methods for future Air Force long-range planning efforts and the Air Force strategic vision as well as providing associated policy guidance.

General Cord received his commission in 1975 through the ROTC program at Texas Tech University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School and served as an instructor at the school for three years. General Cord joined the Air Force Reserve in 1987 as an Air Reserve Technician. He has commanded a fighter squadron, operations group, a fighter wing and served as Vice Commander of 10th Air Force. Most recently he served as Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

General Cord is a command pilot with more than 3,300 hours in T-37, T-38 and A-10 aircraft.

EDUCATION
1975 Bachelor of Arts degree, Texas Tech University, Lubbock
1978 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1983 USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
1986 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1995 Air War College, by seminar
2007 Air Force Senior Leadership Course, Center for Creative Leadership, San Diego, Calif.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1976 - February 1977, imagery intelligence officer training, Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Center, Lowry AFB, Colo.
2. February 1977 - January 1979, officer in charge, Imagery Interpretation Section, 91st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
3. January 1979 - January 1980, student pilot, Williams AFB, Ariz.
4. January 1980 - August 1980, A-10 training, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. August 1980 - August 1984, A-10 pilot, instructor pilot and Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C.
6. August 1984 - August 1987, A-10 instructor pilot, flight commander, flight examiner and Chief of the Surface Attack Department, USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. September 1987 - June 1996, A-10 instructor pilot, flight commander and assistant operations officer, 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
8. July 1996 - November 1999, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 917th Wing, Barksdale AFB, La.
9. November 1999 - November 2000, operations officer, 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
10. November 2000 - January 2002, Commander, 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
11. January 2002 - September 2003, Commander, 926th Operations Group, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La.
12. September 2003 - July 2006, Commander, 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
13. July 2006 - July 2008, Vice Commander, 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
14. August 2008 - July 2010, Deputy Director of Operations (J3), Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
15. August 2010 - present, Deputy Director, Air Force Strategic Planning, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
August 2008 - August 2010, Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a brigadier general

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,300
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38 and A-10

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Outstanding graduate, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 17, 1975
First Lieutenant Feb. 1, 1978
Captain Feb. 1, 1980
Major May 17, 1989
Lieutenant Colonel May 17, 1996
Colonel Feb. 27, 2002
Brigadier General June 3, 2007

(Current as of April 2012)