James Kowalski

For the Episcopal clergyman, see James A. Kowalski.

James Kowalski
File:Kowalski 2013.jpeg
Born	(1957-10-30) October 30, 1957 Columbus, Ohio
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1980–2015
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	Air Force Global Strike Command 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) Bronze Star Medal

James M. Kowalski (born October 30, 1957) is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as the Deputy Commander, United States Strategic Command from 2013 to 2015.

Military career

File:Jim Tom and Chhiring and Dawa Yangzum Sherpa.jpg

Kowalski, Tom Whittaker, Chhiring Dorje Sherpa and Dawa Yangzum Sherpa

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. Kowalski retired from active duty on 1 September 2015. Kowalski's contingency and wartime experience include command of the 2nd Operations Group when the unit deployed B-52s for combat during operations Noble Anvil and Allied Force, and command of the 28th Bomb Wing when it deployed B-1Bs for Operation Iraqi Freedom. From January 2003 to May 2003, 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. He served as Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command until October 2013, when he became Deputy Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. He retired on September 1, 2015.

Awards and decorations

File:COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png	US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
File:United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg	Basic Parachutist Badge
File:Afg 021203 114.jpg	Master Missile Operations Badge
File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

File:Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
File:Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
File:US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg	Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges	Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges.	Bronze Star Medal
File:Defense Meritorious Service ribbon.svg	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.	Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Air Medal ribbon.svg	Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg	Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
File:Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg	Joint Service Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg	Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
File:Air Force Achievement ribbon.svg	Air Force Achievement Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
File:Air Force Meritorious Unit ribbon.svg	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
File:Outstanding Unit ribbon.svgFile:Valor device.svgFile:Oak leaf cluster, bronze.svgFile:Oak leaf cluster, bronze.svgFile:Oak leaf cluster, bronze.svg	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three bronze oak leaf clusters
File:Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fifth award)
Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg	Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze star Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
File:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
File:Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
File:Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal ribbon.svg	Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
File:Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
File:Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svgFile:Silver oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Oak leaf cluster, bronze.svgFile:Oak leaf cluster, bronze.svg	Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
File:USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
File:Air Force Training Ribbon.svg	Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of promotion

Insignia	Rank	Date
File:US-O9 insignia.svg	Lieutenant general	Jan. 6, 2011
File:US-O8 insignia.svg	Major general	May 7, 2009
File:US-O7 insignia.svg	Brigadier general	Nov. 1, 2005
File:US-O6 insignia.svg	Colonel	May 1, 1999
File:US-O5 insignia.svg	Lieutenant colonel	Mar. 1, 1994
File:US-O4 insignia.svg	Major	Jan. 1, 1990
File:US-O3 insignia.svg	Captain	Mar. 14, 1983
File:US-OF1A.svg	First lieutenant	Mar. 14, 1981
File:US-OF1B.svg	Second lieutenant	Jun. 9, 1979

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Lieutenant General James Kowalski Biography. United States Air Force.