James Kowalski

James Kowalski
Lieutenant General James M. Kowalski
Born	1957 (age 66–67)
Place of birth	Columbus, Ohio
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1980-Present
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Air Force Global Strike Command
Commands held	Air Force Global Strike Command 28th Bomb Squadron 2d Operations Group 28th Bomb Wing 552nd Air Control Wing
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal Aerial Achievement Medal (2) Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal (2) Air Force Achievement Medal Combat Readiness Medal (2) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Lieutenant General James M. Kowalski (born c. 1954) is the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command Barksdale AFB, La. His grandparents were born near Wadowice in Poland. He is responsible for organizing, training, equipping and maintaining all U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear-capable bomber forces. The command's mission is to develop and provide combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations—safe, secure and effective—to support the President of the United States and combatant commanders. The command comprises more than 23,000 professionals operating at various locations around the globe. The command's six wings control the nation's entire inventory of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, B-2 and B-52 bomber aircraft.

General Kowalski entered active duty in 1980 through the ROTC program at the University of Cincinnati. He has held a variety of operational commands, including a bomb squadron, an operations group, a bomb wing and an air control wing.

His contingency and wartime experience include command of the 2nd Operations Group when they deployed B-52s for combat during operations Noble Anvil and Allied Force, and command of the 28th Bomb Wing when they deployed B-1Bs for Operation Iraqi Freedom. From January 2003 to May 2003, General Kowalski commanded the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia where he led a combined wing of B-1Bs, E-3s and KC-135s to provide strike, battle management, and air refueling for operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. His previous staff assignments include Headquarters Air Combat Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Vice Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "[1]".