Andrew J. Gebara
Colonel, U.S. Air Force

Andrew J. Gebara, a native of Highland, CA, entered the U.S. Air Force in 1991 after commissioning through the U.S. Naval Academy. A veteran of four campaigns, he has served tours of duty with the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as one tour as Deputy Director of the U.S. Central Command Commander's Initiatives Group, and two deployments serving on the multi-national staff of the Commander, International Security Assistance Force, Kabul (ISAF), Afghanistan.

Colonel Gebara is the current Commander of the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, LA. He is responsible for providing combat-ready B-52H aircraft, crews, and associated combat support to conduct global operational taskings. Additionally, as Barksdale's installation commander, he supports 40 tenant units, including Headquarters, Air Force Global Strike Command; Headquarters, 8th Air Force; and the Air Force Reserve Command's 307th Bomb Wing. He promotes the welfare of more than 11,400 military and civilian personnel, 6,300 family members and 25,000 retirees.

Col Gebara is a Command Pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours, including 46 combat sorties in the A-10 and B-2 in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Allied Force, Joint Guard, and a 29-hour combat support sortie in the opening days of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He was promoted to brigadier general in 2021 and staffed as Commander, Eighth Air Force. He was promoted to major general in 2023. He currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration of the United States Air Force.

Assignments

1. August 1991 - May 1993, student, undergraduate pilot training, Reese AFB, TX
2. May - November 1993, student, B-52G combat crew training, Castle AFB, CA
3. November 1993 - September 1997, B-52H copilot, aircraft commander and squadron chief of safety, Barksdale AFB, LA
4. September 1997 -June 1998, student, A-10 upgrade training, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
5. June 1998 - May 2000, A-10 4-ship flight lead and chief of scheduling, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
6. May 2000 - March 2001, student, B-2 upgrade training, Whiteman AFB, MO
7. March 2001 - June 2005, B-2 instructor pilot, chief of weapons and tactics, and assistant director of operations, Whiteman AFB, MO
8. June 2005 - June 2006, student, School of Advanced Warfighting, Marine Corps University, MCB Quantico, VA
9. June 2006 - July 2008, B-2 director of operations, later, commander, 325th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School, Whiteman AFB, MO
10. July 2008 - June 2009, student, Naval War College, NS Newport, RI
11. June 2009 - June 2010, deputy director and chief, strategic communications branch, commander's initiatives group, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, FL
12. July 2010 - February 2011, deputy director, commander's initiatives group, International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan
13. April 2011 - May 2012, vice commander, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
14. May 2012 - Present, commander, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA

Summary of Joint Assignments

1. June 2009 - June 2010, deputy director and chief, strategic communications branch, commander's initiatives group, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, FL, as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2010 - February 2011, deputy director, commander's initiatives group, International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan, as a lieutenant colonel

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400
Aircraft Flown: A/OA-10, B-2, B-52G/H and T/AT-38

Education

1991 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
1997 Master of Social Science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2003 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
2006 Master of Operational Studies, School of Advanced Warfighting, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
2009 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, RI
2010 Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
2012 United States Air Force Executive Leadership Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Medals, Awards & Badges

Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
Command Pilot Badge

Honors

Distinguished Graduate, Highest Distinction, Naval War College, 2009
Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer's School, Class 98-E, 1998
Distinguished Graduate, Joint Firepower Control Course, Class 93-03, 1998
Distinguished Graduate, B-52 Combat Crew Training Course, 1993
Top Graduate, USAF Flight Safety Officer Course, Class 96-H, 1996
AFCEA Research Honor Award, 2009

Effective Dates of Promotions

Second Lieutenant: 20 May 1991
First Lieutenant: 20 May 1993
Captain: 30 May 1995
Major: 1 April 2002
Lieutenant Colonel: 1 December 2006
Colonel: 1 September 2011

Publications

"Deep Thoughts," A-10s over Kosovo: The Victory of Airpower over a Fielded Army as Told by the Airmen Who Fought in Operation Allied Force, December 2003.
"What's a B-2 Weapons Officer, and Why Would I Want to Become One?" USAF Weapons Review, Summer 2004.
"You Have the Patch, You Figure It Out!" USAF Weapons Review, Summer 2005.

"The L.O. Challenged Jet: Employment Options for L.O. Degraded Stealth Bombers,"

(Information current as of November 2013)