Joseph T. Guastella

{{short description|United States Air Force general}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2020}}

{{create list|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = Joseph T. Guastella

| image = Lt Gen Joseph T. Guastella Jr.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1965}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

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| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Air Force

| serviceyears = 1987–2022

| rank = Lieutenant General

| servicenumber =

| unit =

| commands = United States Air Forces Central Command
455th Air Expeditionary Wing
20th Fighter Wing
555th Fighter Squadron

| battles = War in Afghanistan

| awards = Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal (2)

| relations =

| laterwork =

}}

Joseph Thomas Guastella Jr. (born 1965) is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force.{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108743/joseph-t-guastella/ |title=Lieutenant General Joseph T. Guastella (USAF) |author= |date=July 17, 2021 |publisher=United States Air Force |access-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717124318/https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108743/lieutenant-general-joseph-t-guastella |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}} He was commissioned upon his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1987.

Air Force career

Joseph Thomas Guastella Jr.https://s3.amazonaws.com/usafayearbooks/1987.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} entered the United States Air Force in 1987 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II. He has served multiple combat tours and flown combat missions in support of Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm. He further instructed at the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School. Guastella has commanded the 555th Fighter Squadron, "Triple Nickel", Aviano Air Base, Italy, the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

As a general officer, Guastella served at the Pentagon as the deputy director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs. Following his reassignment, he was selected as commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. He served as the deputy director of Requirements, Joint Staff and was subsequently assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Intelligence, NATO. Most recently he served as the Director of Integrated Air, Space, Cyberspace and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations at Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado.

Guastella is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, National War College and the Senior Executive Fellows program.

In May 2022, the Air Force announced Guastella's retirement from active duty.{{cite web | url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3039177/senior-leader-announcement-week-of-may-23/ | title=Senior leader announcement: Week of May 23 | date=May 23, 2022 }}

Education

:1987 Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

:1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

:1997 Master of Science in Aero Science Technology, Embry Riddle University, Daytona Beach, Fla.

:2001 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

:2006 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

:2011 Senior Executive Fellows program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Assignments

  • August 1987 – January 1989, student pilot, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
  • January 1989 – September 1989, F-16 initial training, Luke AFB, Ariz.
  • September 1989 – May 1992, squadron electronic combat pilot and assistant weapons officer, 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
  • May 1992 – May 1993, instructor pilot, assistant flight commander and assistant weapons officer, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, South Korea
  • May 1993 – April 1994, standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 526th TFS, Ramstein AB, Germany
  • April 1994 – January 1995, standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 555th FS, Aviano AB, Italy
  • Jan 1995 – June 1995, student, fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • June 1995 – December 1996, squadron weapons and tactics officer and assistant wing weapons officer, 555th FS, Aviano AB, Italy
  • December 1996 – August 2000, Instructor, F-16 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • September 2000 – June 2001, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • June 2001 – August 2002, action officer, Joint Strike Fighter and Combat Identification Programs, Headquarters Air Force, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Washington, D.C.
  • August 2002 – October 2003, operations officer, 555th FS, Aviano AB, Italy
  • October 2003 – July 2005, commander, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
  • August 2005 – July 2006, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  • June 2006 – June 2007, U.S. CENTAF, (A3) forward and CAOC Director of Operations, Southwest Asia
  • June 2007 – August 2008, Deputy Director CAPSTONE, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
  • August 2008 – October 2008, vice commander, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
  • October 2008 – June 2010, commander, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
  • June 2010 – July 2011, Chief Program Integration Division, Directorate of Programs, DCS Strategic Plans and Programs, the Pentagon Washington, D.C.
  • July 2011 – June 2012, deputy director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  • July 2012 – July 2013, commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
  • July 2013 – July 2015, deputy director of Requirements (J8), Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
  • July 2015 – July 2017, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Intelligence, SHAPE, Casteau Belgium
  • July 2017 – August 2018, Director of Integrated Air, Space, Cyberspace and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  • August 2018 – July 2020, Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia
  • August 2020 – July 2022, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

Flight information

:Rating: command pilot

:Flight hours: more than 4,000, including more than 1,000 combat

:Aircraft flown: F-16C/D, A-10C

Awards and decorations

140px

|US Air Force Command Pilot Badge

80px

|Basic Parachutist Badge

95px

|Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

80px

|Headquarters Air Force Badge

70px

|Air Force Weapons Instructor School Graduate Patch

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=60}}

|Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Bronze Star ribbon|width=60}}

|Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}}

|Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Medal ribbon|width=60}}14px14px14px

|Air Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Aerial Achievement Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=60}}14px14px14px

|Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Achievement ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Achievement Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame)|width=60}}

|Joint Meritorious Unit Award

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Meritorious Unit ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=60}}14px14px14px14px

|Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Combat Readiness Medal ribbon|width=60}}14px14px

|Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991–2016)|width=60}}

|Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon|width=60}}

|Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon|width=60}}

|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Korea Defense Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Armed Forces Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Humanitarian Service ribbon|width=60}}

|Humanitarian Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air and Space Campaign Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Air and Space Campaign Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}10px14px

|Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" Device and oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=AF OS Short Tour Ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=AF OS Tour Ribbon|width=60}}14px14px

|Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Longevity Service Award USAF|width=60}}14px14px14px

|Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=USAF Marksmanship ribbon|width=60}}

|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Air Force Training Ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Training Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar|width=60}}11px11px

|NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia with two service stars

Effective dates of promotions

Sources:{{cite web|url=https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1617742/afcent-changes-command-in-historic-ceremony/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327051634/https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1617742/afcent-changes-command-in-historic-ceremony/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 March 2019|website=afspc.af.mil|title=AFCENT changes command in historic ceremony > Air Force Space Command > Article Display|accessdate=2019-03-27}}

class="wikitable"

|+

! Rank !! Date

|{{Dodseal|USAFO1|115}} Second Lieutenant27 May 1987
|{{Dodseal|USAFO2|115}} First Lieutenant27 May 1989
|{{Dodseal|USAFO3|115}} Captain27 May 1991
|{{Dodseal|USAFO4|115}} Major1 November 1998
|{{Dodseal|USAFO5|115}} Lieutenant Colonel1 February 2003
|{{Dodseal|USAFO6|115}} Colonel15 June 2006
|{{Dodseal|USAFO7|115}} Brigadier General18 November 2011
|{{Dodseal|USAFO8|115}} Major General24 July 2015
|{{Dodseal|USAFO9|115}} Lieutenant General30 August 2018

References

{{commons category|Joseph T. Guastella, Jr.}}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-military}}

{{s-bef|before=James N. Post III}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the 20th Fighter Wing|years=2008–2010}}

{{s-aft|after=Charles L. Moore}}

{{s-bef|before=Thomas H. Deale}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing|years=2012–2013}}

{{s-aft|after=Patrick E. Malackowski}}

{{s-bef|before=???}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Director of Requirements of the Joint Staff|years=2013–2015}}

{{s-aft|after=Steven L. Basham}}

{{s-bef|before=???}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Intelligence of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe|years=2015–2017}}

{{s-aft|after=Scott Kindsvater}}

{{s-bef|before=Stephen Whiting}}

{{s-ttl|title=Director of Integrated Air, Space, Cyberspace and ISR Operations of the Air Force Space Command|years=2017–2018}}

{{s-aft|after=DeAnna Burt}}

{{s-bef|before=Jeffrey L. Harrigian}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the United States Air Forces Central Command|years=2018–2020}}

{{s-aft|after=Gregory M. Guillot}}

{{s-bef|before=Mark D. Kelly}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force|years=2020–2022}}

{{s-aft|after=Charles S. Corcoran
{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guastella, Joseph}}

Category:1965 births

Category:Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:National War College alumni

Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni

Category:United States Air Force generals

Category:United States Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)