NY Air Guard Colonel Gary R. Charlton, II, a Skaneateles resident, to be promoted to one-star general

Newburgh, New York (06/01/2022) — New York Air National Guard Colonel Gary R. Charlton, II, a Skaneateles resident who commands the 105th Airlift Wing will be promoted to one-star general during a ceremony on Saturday, June 4 at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.

Charlton, who took over as the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing in March, previously commanded the 107th Attack Wing at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

The 105th Airlift Wing operates the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter, which is used to fly priority supplies and personnel to U.S. military units around the world.

Charlton will be promoted to brigadier general following a ceremony at which six members of the wing will be recognized for their actions during Operation Allies Refuge, the August 2021 mission to evacuate Afghan nationals and others from Kabul as the city fell to the Taliban.

Charlton is a command pilot with over 3,200 hours flying a variety of aircraft, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft.

His promotion will be overseen by Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York.

"I'm honored, humbled, and thrilled to further serve and represent the Airmen of the 105th with this promotion," Charlton said

Charlton enlisted in the New York Air National Guard in May 1990 and served as a fuel's systems technician. He graduated from Columbia College in 1995 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

He earned his officer's commission in 2000 and attended undergraduate pilot training in 2001.

Charlton completed initial F-16 Fighting Falcon 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 and vice commander of the 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

A combat veteran, Charlton served seven combat deployments. He served on three deployments while enlisted: Operations Desert Shield and Storm, and Northern Watch.

He served another four deployments as an F-16 pilot, flying combat missions in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

Charlton's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Air Force Overseas Ribbon, and the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon.

His military education includes the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College and the Joint and Combined Warfighter School.

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