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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH T. GUASTELLA |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH T. GUASTELLA
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Brigadier General Joseph T. Guastella, Jr. is the Commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He commands a composite wing that includes close air support; air mobility; combat search and rescue; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and electronic attack assets. It also provides aeromedical evacuation and command and control assets in support of the International Security Assistance Force and Operation Enduring Freedom.
General Guastella entered the Air Force in 1987 with a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He's flown both the F-16 and A-10, served multiple combat tours, and instructed at the Air Force Fighter Weapons School. Additionally, he has served as a staff officer establishing requirements for the F-35 at Headquarters Air Force Directorate of Operational Requirements.
Gen. Guastella also served as the operations officer and then commander of the 555th Fighter Squadron, 'Triple Nickel', Aviano Air Base, Italy. He was also the Director of Operations for U.S. Central Command Air Forces Combined Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia. Thereafter, he was Deputy Director of CAPSTONE, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. He then commanded the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. After wing command, Gen. Guastella returned to the Pentagon to direct program integration in the Air Force's "Engine Room", and then as the Deputy Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1997 Master of Science in Aero Science Technology, Embry Riddle University
2001 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2011 Senior Executive Fellows program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1987 - January 1989, Student Pilot, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. January 1989 - September 1989, F-16 initial training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. September 1989 - May 1992, Squadron Electronic Combat Pilot and Assistant Weapons Officer, 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. May 1992 - May 1993,Instructor Pilot, Assistant Flight Commander and Assistant Weapons Officer, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
5. May 1993 - April 1994, Standardization and Evaluation Flight Examiner, 526th TFS, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
6. April 1994 - January 1995, Standardization and Evaluation Flight Examiner, 555th FS, Aviano Air Base, Italy
7. Jan 1995 - June 1995, Student, fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. June 1995 - December 1996, Squadron Weapons and Tactics Officer and Assistant Wing Weapons Officer, 555th FS, Aviano Air Base, Italy
9. December 1996 - August 2000, Instructor, F-16 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. September 2000 - June 2001, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2001 - August 2002, Action Officer, Joint Strike Fighter and Combat dentification Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Directorate of Operational Requirements, Washington, D.C.
12. August 2002 - October 2003, Operations Officer, 555th FS, Aviano Air Base, Italy
13. October 2003 - July 2005, Commander, 555th FS, Aviano Air Base, Italy
14. August 2005 - July 2006, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2006 - June 2007, U.S. CENTAF, A3 forward and CAOC Director of Operations, Southwest Asia
16. June 2007 - August 2008, Deputy Director CAPSTONE, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
17. August 2008 - October 2008, Vice Commander, 20th FW, Shaw AFB, S.C.
18. October 2008 - June 2010, Commander, 20th FW, Shaw AFB, S.C.
19. June 2010 - July 2011, Chief Program Integration Division, Directorate of Programs, DCS Strategic Plans and Programs, Pentagon Washington D.C.
20. July 2011 - July 2012, Deputy Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
21. July 2012 - Present, commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3400
Aircraft flown: A-10C, F-16C/D, T-38, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1987
First Lieutenant May 27, 1989
Captain May 27, 1991
Major Nov. 1, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2003
Colonel Jun. 15, 2006
Brigadier General Nov. 18, 2011
(Current as of July 2012)
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