MAJOR GENERAL WILFRED HESSERT
Major General Wilfred Hessert is the military executive to the Reserve Forces Policy Board and military adviser to the board's chairman, Washington, D.C. The RFPB was created by act of Congress in 1952. The board, acting through the assistant secretary of defense for Reserve Affairs, is the principal policy adviser to the secretary of defense on matters relating to the Reserve components.
He began his military career by enlisting in the United States Army in 1960. He served three years active duty with the Army before enlisting in the Maine Air National Guard. He received a direct commission in 1965. He assumed command of the 101st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in 1979 and served as deputy commander for maintenance, deputy commander for operations, vice wing commander and then wing commander, 101st Air Refueling Wing, Maine Air National Guard. In 1996, he was selected to be the Air National Guard assistant to commander, USAFE, and assumed his current position in May 1997.
EDUCATION:
1969 Bachelor of science degree in accounting, Husson College, Bangor, Maine, magna cum laude
1974 Master's Degree in business administration, Auburn University, Ala., with distinction
1974 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1982 Air War College, with distinction
1997 Capstone, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1965 - June 1967, student, pilot training, Dow Air Force Base, Maine; Laredo Air Force Base, Texas.
2. June 1967 - November 1967, student, fighter interceptor school, Perrin Air Force Base, Texas.
3. November 1967 - August 1972, interceptor pilot, 132nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Maine Air National Guard, Dow Air Force Base, Maine.
4. August 1972 - April 1976, aircraft maintenance and flight test officer, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor IAP, Maine.
5. April 1976 - July 1979, chief of maintenance, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor IAP, Maine.
6. July 1979 - July 1984, commander, 101st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor IAP, Maine.
7. July 1984 - October 1987, deputy commander for maintenance, 101st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor Air
National Guard Base, Maine.
8. October 1987 - February 1991, deputy commander for operations, Headquarters, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine.
9. February 1991 - September 1991, vice wing commander, 101st Air Refueling Wing, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine.
10. September 1991 - November 1996, wing commander, 101st Air Refueling Wing, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine.
11. November 1996 - May 1997, ANG assistant to commander, USAFE, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
12. May 1997 - June 1999, deputy inspector general, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. July 1999 - December 2000, military executive to the Reserve Forces Policy Board and military adviser to the board's chairman, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (personnel and readiness), Washington, D.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,500 hours
Aircraft flown: KC-135 A/E, F-101B/F, T-33, F-102, F-89, C-54
Pilot wings from: Laredo Air Force Base, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Good Conduct Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS:
Second Lieutenant Nov 6, 1965
First Lieutenant Nov 6, 1968
Captain Apr 5, 1971
Major Apr 5, 1975
Lieutenant Colonel Jul 31, 1979
Colonel Jun 14, 1984
Brigadier General Jul 1, 1993
Major General Oct 30, 1997
(Current as of February 2001)