James Kowalski

James Kowalski
Born	(1957-10-30) October 30, 1957 Columbus, Ohio
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1980-2015
Rank	Lieutenant general
Unit	Air Force Global Strike Command
Commands held	Air Force Global Strike Command Deputy Commander, USSTRATCOM 28th Bomb Squadron 2d Operations Group 28th Bomb Wing 552nd Air Control Wing
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4)

James M. Kowalski (born October 30, 1957) was the Deputy Commander, United States Strategic Command, Offut AFB, Nebraska. His grandparents were born near Wadowice in Poland. He was 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 (3 wings), B-2 (and B-1, 1 wing) and B-52 (2 wings) bomber aircraft.

General Kowalski entered active duty in 1980 through the ROTC program at the University of Cincinnati. He held a variety of operational commands, including a bomb squadron, an operations group, a bomb wing and an air control wing over his 35-year career. Gen Kowalski retired from active duty on 1 September 2015.

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 Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command.

Awards and decorations

	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Master Missile Operations Badge
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Bronze Star Medal
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fifth award)
	Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Training Ribbon

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force document "Lieutenant General James Kowalski Biography".