Major General Roger E. Combs is director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) for the National Guard Bureau. He is responsible to the chief, National Guard Bureau to develop, promulgate and implement policy, plans, concepts and strategy for the nearly half million citizen soldiers and airmen of the Army and Air National Guard. His duties touch and concern warfighting, peacetime international activities and aspects of the federal and state homeland security and civil support missions of both the National Guard Bureau and the corporate National Guard. The mission scope of the J-5 Directorate also includes representing the chief of the National Guard Bureau in Department of Defense, interagency, intergovernmental and non-governmental forums. Prior to his current assignment, General Combs was assistant adjutant general for Air and deputy commander of Joint Forces Headquarters, Missouri. He also served as the Air National Guard assistant to commander, First Air Force, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
The General began his military career by attending Officer Candidate School in the United States Marine Corps in 1968. After designation as a naval aviator, he served a tour in Vietnam as a combat helicopter pilot in 1969-70. While he holds no United States Air Force rating, he is an aircraft commander who has earned ratings as a Naval Aviator and a Senior Army Aviator. He has over 2,500 flying hours in four types of rotary wing aircraft including more than 500 hours of combat time in a CH-46. He then served a number of years as director of intelligence for a C-130 Airlift Wing.
After transferring to Headquarters, Missouri Air National Guard, General Combs became engaged in, and has become nationally recognized for his expertise in long range and strategic planning. In recent years he has participated in numerous national level forums which have favorably impacted upon the current readiness, reliability and relevance of the Air National Guard. He is currently a member of the Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee.
EDUCATION:
1968 Bachelor of Science degree, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
1975 Juris Doctorate degree, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
1983 United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1988 National Security Management Course
ASSIGNMENTS:
May 1968 - Oct 1968, student, Infantry Platoon Leader Course, The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
Oct 1968 - Mar 1969, student, Primary Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Ft. Wolters, Tex.
Mar 1969 - Jul 1969, student, Advanced Rotary Aviator Course, Hunter Army Air Field, Savannah, Ga.
Jul 1969 - Nov 1969, student, Transition/Instrument Training, CH-46, Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, Calif.
Nov 1969 - Jul 1970, helicopter second pilot, Marble Mountain Air Facility, Republic of Vietnam
Jul 1970 - Sep 1970, aircraft commander/squadron administrative officer, Marble Mountain Air Facility, Republic of Vietnam
Sep 1970 - Oct 1970, section leader, CH-46D, Helicopter Marine Medium 364, Marble Mountain Air Facility, Republic of Vietnam
Oct 1970 - Nov 1970, division leader/assistant operations officer, Marble Mountain Air Facility, Republic of Vietnam
Nov 1970 - Nov 1970, flight leader, CH-46D, Helicopter Marine Medium 364, Marble Mountain Air Facility, Republic of Vietnam
Nov 1970 - May 1971, assistant officer selection officer, United States Marine Corps Recruit Station, Kansas City, Mo.
May 1971 - Aug 1971, assistant ops officer/flight leader, Helicopter Marine Medium 263, Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, Va.
Sep 1971 - Jun 1972, chief aircraft maintenance officer, Helicopter Marine Medium 263, Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, Va.
Jun 1972 - Nov 1972, executive officer, Detachment 1, Helicopter Marine Medium 263, Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, Va.
Nov 1972 - Jun 1973, squadron naval air training, operating procedure, and standards officer, Helicopter Marine Medium 263, Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico, Va.
Jun 1973 - Sep 1973, inactive status, United States Marine Corps Reserve
Sep 1973 - Sep 1978, aircraft commander, UH-1C,D,H, 635th Aviation Company, Missouri Army National Guard
Sep 1978 - Apr 1981, intelligence officer, 139 Tactical Airlift Group, Missouri Air National Guard, St. Joseph, Mo.
Apr 1981 - Oct 1992, director of intelligence, 139 Tactical Airlift Group, Missouri Air National Guard, St. Joseph, Mo.
Oct 1992 - Nov 1999, state plans and programs officer, Headquarters Missouri Air National Guard, St. Joseph, Mo.
Nov 1999 - Mar 2004, Assistant Adjutant General/Air, HQ MOANG, Jefferson City, MO
Mar 2004 - Present, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, National Guard Bureau, Arlington,VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with gold star and numerals “37”
Air Force Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal with Valor
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 1 device
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation
Missouri National Guard 30 Year Long Service Ribbon
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION:
Associate Circuit Judge in Missouri's 4th Judicial Circuit
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
National Guard Association of the United States Distinguished Service Medal, 2003
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant, May 5, 1968
First Lieutenant, July 1, 1969
Captain, April 1, 1971
Major, April 11, 1981
Lieutenant Colonel, May 2, 1989
Colonel, December 4, 1994
Brigadier General, November 7, 1999
Major General, March 15, 2004