Jonathan D. George
Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force

Jonathan D. George is a direct relative of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and is a member of the Comanche Nation. He was raised on a farm near Bedford, IN, and played a variety of sports in high school. At one time, George lived out of his truck while saving up money for his own farm.

George received his Bachelor's degree in Agronomy and Education from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in 1979.

U.S. Air Force Career

On 4 February 1981, George was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He said he joined the Air Force because of the Iranian Hostage Crisis.

Assignments

February 1981 - August 1985: Student in undergraduate pilot training, later served as a T-37 instructor pilot and runway supervisor unit controller at 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, OK.

August 1985 - August 1988: Captain George was a U-2 and TR-1 instructor and evaluator pilot, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA.

August 1988 - August 1989: Captain George was a White House Fellow and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC.

August 1989 - December 1990: Captain George was a graduate student in Public Administration at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

December 1990 - November 1993: George was promoted to Major on 1 October 1991. Served as Director of Operations and B-1 instructor aircraft commander, 46th Bomb Squadron, Grand Forks AFB, ND.

November 1993 - December 1994: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1 March 1994 and served as Chief of Safety, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO.

August 1995 - October 1997: Commander, 393rd Bomb Squadron, later, Deputy Commander 509th Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, MO.

October 1997 - May 2000: Promoted to Colonel on 1 September 1998, George served as Director of Combat Operations and Senior Controller, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE.

June 2000 - December 2001: Col George was Commander, 509th Operations Group, Whiteman AFB, MO.

December 2001 - December 2002: Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.

January 2003 - September 2004: Commander, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, TX, and Commander 7th Air Expeditionary Wing, Andersen AFB, Guam.

September 2004 - September 2005: Deputy Director of Plans and Programs, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA.

September 2005 - March 2007: Commander, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, NE. Promoted to the flag rank of Brigadier General on 16 February 2006.

April 2007 - April 2008: Brig Gen George was Deputy Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command, Kabul, Afghanistan.

May 2008 - March 2009: Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

March 2009 - February 2011: Director, Strategic Capabilities Policy, National Security Council, Executive Office of the President, Washington, DC. During this period, served as an advisor to President Barack Obama on key strategic policy issues.

Major Medals, Awards & Badges

Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO ISAF
Command Pilot Badge

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,000 hours
Aircraft flown: RC-135, B-1, B-2, U-2R, T-38 and T-37

Education

1979 Bachelor of Science degrees in agronomy and education, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
1985 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1990 Master of Public Administration degree, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
1995 NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy

Effective Dates of Promotion

Second Lieutenant: 4 February 1981
First Lieutenant: 4 February 1983
Captain: 4 February 1985
Major: 1 October 1991
Lieutenant Colonel: 1 March 1994
Colonel: 1 September 1998
Brigadier General: 16 February 2006

In Retirement

Upon retiring, he returned to Bedford, IN, where he lives on a farm with his wife and children.

In October 2011 he ran, unsuccessfully, in Indiana's 9th District Democratic Congressional primary.

This Honoree Record was prepared with the valuable assistance of Lanny G. Asepermy, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret.) [Honoree Record ID 227117], Historian for the Comanche Indian Veterans Association in Lawton, OK. Photo is courtesy of SMG Asepermy and the Comanche Nation Museum.