Brigadier General Gary R. Charlton II is the commander, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York. He is responsible for the combat readiness of assigned units by providing the necessary equipment, supplies, and facilities. The 105th Airlift Wing is assigned C-17A Globemaster III aircraft and has coordinating responsibilities for a United States Marine Corps tenant unit.
General Charlton enlisted in the New York Air National Guard in May 1990 and served as a fuels systems technician. He graduated from Columbia College in 1995 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He then commissioned in 2000 and attended undergraduate pilot training in 2001. General Charlton completed initial F-16 qualification training in 2002 and served as an F-16C pilot flying with the 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y. He has held the positions of flight, detachment and squadron commander of the 138th Fighter Squadron; as well as 107th Operations Group commander.
A combat veteran, General Charlton served seven combat deployments, Operations DESERT SHIELD and STORM, and NORTHERN WATCH while enlisted, and four additional deployments flying F-16C combat missions in Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. He is a command pilot with over 3,200 flying hours in the T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, MQ-9, and C-17A. Prior to his current assignment, he was the commander of the 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Columbia College, Mo.
1999 Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Tenn.
2000 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala., by distance learning
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by distance learning
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by distance learning
2016 Commander Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Norfolk Naval Support Activity, Va.
2018 USAF Wing Commanders’ Seminar, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Wing Commander Executive Level Response Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 USAF Senior Leaders’ Mission Generation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 National Security Studies Program, Syracuse University, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1990–June 2000, Fuels System Technician, New York Air National Guard, Hancock Field, N.Y
2. November 2000–March 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), Del Rio, Texas
3. March 2001–November 2002, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. November 2002–December 2003 , Student, Initial F-16 Qualification Training, Springfield Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Ohio
5. December 2003–January 2005, Chief of Scheduling & Training, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
6. January 2005–May 2007, Mission Planning SME/Life Support Flight Commander, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
7. June 2007–February 2009, Commander, 174th Forward Operating Location, Wheeler Sack Army Air Field, N.Y.
8. February 2009–November 2011, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 174th Operation Support Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
9. November 2011–October 2012, Chief Standardization & Evaluations, 174th Operations Group, Hancock Field, N.Y.
10. October 2012–September 2014, Director of Operations, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
11. September 2014–May 2015, Commander, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
12. May 2015–May 2016, Commander, 107th Operations Group, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (ARS), N.Y.
13. May 2016–November 2018, Vice Wing Commander, 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
14. November 2018–March 2022, Commander, 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
15. March 2022–Present, Commander, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart ANGB, Newburgh, N.Y.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,200
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, MQ-9, C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 30, 2000
First Lieutenant June 30, 2002
Captain June 30, 2004
Major Oct. 09, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 20, 2013
Colonel Dec. 7, 2016
Brigadier General June 1, 2022
(Current as of Aug 2022)