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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL RICK B. MATTSON |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL RICK B. MATTSON
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Brig. Gen. Rick B. Mattson is the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Kuwait City, Kuwait, serving as the Department of Defense principal military official and representative to the U.S. embassy country team and host nation. As the Senior Defense Official, he oversees a multibillion dollar portfolio and five divisions responsible for the security assistance mission in Kuwait; serves as a liaison between the Kuwait Ministry of Defense and U.S. Central Command; and coordinates administrative and logistical support to more than 19,500 military and civilian personnel and their families stationed in Kuwait.
General Mattson received his commission in 1981 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash. After pilot training graduation at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in 1983, he served seven years on active duty before joining the Michigan Air National Guard. He has held staff assignments as a director at Joint Forces Headquarters, Michigan Air National Guard, and division chief on the Air Staff. General Mattson served as a fighter squadron commander, an Air Force component commander, and as a deputy group commander. He has performed multiple combat tours in support of operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and air sovereignty missions in support of Operation Noble Eagle.
The general is a command pilot with more than 2,900 hours in F-4, F-5, F-16 and A-10 fighter and attack aircraft as well as numerous ground missions in Iraq and Afghanistan in support of counter-improvised explosive device and nation building operations.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash.
1985 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1996 Master of Arts degree in liberal studies, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
1999 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2003 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1982 - April 1983, student, undergraduate pilot training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 1983 - July 1983, student, fighter lead-in training, 416th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. July 1983 - October 1986, F-4 instructor pilot, 171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
4. October 1986 - December 1986, student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. December 1986 - February 1987, F-4 instructor pilot, 171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
6. February 1987 - July 1989, F-5E aggressor pilot, 65th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. July 1989 - July 1990, F-4 instructor pilot, 171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
8. July 1990 - August 1993, F-16 instructor pilot, 171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
9. August 1993 - February 1998, F-16 weapons officer and flight commander, 107th Fighter Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
10. February 1998 - August 2000, operations officer, 107th Fighter Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
11. August 2000 - February 2003, Commander, 107th Fighter Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
12. February 2003 - December 2003, Director of Operations, Joint Forces Headquarters, Michigan Air National Guard, Mich.
13. December 2003 - September 2004, action officer, Future Total Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. September 2004 - April 2005, U.S. Air Force Component Commander, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Task Force Field Team, Baghdad, Iraq
15. April 2005 - July 2005, student, A-10 training, 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. July 2005 - September 2005, Director of Operations, Joint Forces Headquarters, Michigan Air National Guard, Mich.
17. September 2005 - September 2006, Division Chief, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
18. September 2006 - May 2007, Deputy Director, Counter-Improvised Explosive Device, International Security Assistance Force Headquarters, Kabul, Afghanistan
19. May 2007 - April 2008, Director of Operations, Joint Forces Headquarters, Michigan Air National Guard, Mich.
20. April 2008 - January 2011, Director of Plans and Programs, Joint Forces Headquarters, Michigan Air National Guard, Mich. (September 2008 - June 2009, Deputy Commander, 732nd Air Expeditionary Group, Joint Base Balad, Iraq)
21. January 2011 - May 2011, Assistant Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard, Lansing, Mich.
22. May 2011 - present, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Kuwait City, Kuwait
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2004 - April 2005, U.S. Air Force Component Commander, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Task Force Field Team, Baghdad, Iraq, as a colonel
2. September 2006 - May 2007, Deputy Director, Counter-Improvised Explosive Device, International Security Assistance Force Headquarters, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a colonel
3. May 2011 - present, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Kuwait City, Kuwait, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,900
Aircraft flown: F-4, F-5, F-16 and A-10
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with three bronze stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with five 'M' devices and two hourglass devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1980 Graduate, Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga.
2007 Order of Saint Maurice - Legionnaire, National Infantry Association
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Michigan
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 27, 1981
First Lieutenant Dec. 27, 1983
Captain Dec. 27, 1985
Major Sept. 9, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 30, 1999
Colonel July 22, 2004
Brigadier General Feb. 9, 2011
(Current as of May 2011)
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