New York Air National Guard - NYANG Commander, Major General Gary Charlton

Major General Gary Charlton

Commander, New York Air National Guard

Maj Gen. Gary Charlton is the Commander, Assistant Adjutant General of the New York Air National Guard, Division of Military and Naval Affairs in Latham, New York. He is responsible for the mission readiness and operation effectiveness across six distinctly different weapons systems, spanning five flying wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector. Maj Gen. Charlton is responsible for more than 5,800 airmen and civilians belonging to the largest and most diverse Air National Guard within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

Maj Gen. Charlton began his military career in May 1990, enlisting in the New York Air National Guard as a Fuels Systems Technician. He later furthered his education by earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Columbia College in 1995 and subsequently completed a Master of Arts degree in Military Studies, with a concentration in Joint Warfare, through the Capstone Option program at American Military University, graduating in February 2025.

Maj Gen. Charlton commissioned in 2000 and attended undergraduate pilot training in 2001. He completed initial F-16 qualification training in 2002 and served as an F-16C pilot flying with the 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, New York. Maj Gen. Charlton's command experience includes leadership positions at the flight, detachment, squadron, and group levels, culminating in his tenure as Commander of the 107th and 105th Wings. A combat veteran, Maj Gen. Charlton served seven combat deployments, Operations DESERT SHIELD and STORM, and NORTHERN WATCH while enlisted, and four additional deployments flying F-16C combat missions in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. He is a command pilot with over 3,500 combined flying hours in various aircrafts to include: T-37, T- 38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, MQ-9, and C-17A. Prior to his current assignment, Maj Gen. Charlton served as Director of Operations A3/10 at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, National Guard Bureau, located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

EDUCATION

1995 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Columbia College, Mo.
1999 Noncommissioned Officers Academy, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2000 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
2007 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2012 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2015 Air War College, by correspondence
2016 Commander Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Norfolk Naval Support Activity, Va.
2018 USAF Wing Commanders’ Seminar, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Wing Commander Executive Level Response Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 USAF Senior Leaders’ Mission Generation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 National Security Studies Program, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2023 General and Flag Officer Seminar, Homeland Security Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2025 Masters in Military Studies-Capstone Option (MA), Concentration-Joint Warfare, American Military University

ASSIGNMENTS

July 1990 - August 1990
Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX.
August 1990 - October 1990
Student, Fuels System Apprentice, Chanute Air Force Base, IL.
October 1990 - September 1997
Fuels System Journeyman, Shepard Air Force Base, TX.
September 1997 - June 2000
Fuels System Technician, New York Air National Guard, Hancock Field, N.Y.
June 2000 - November 2001
Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, TX.
November 2001 - March 2002
Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
March 2002 - November 2002
Student, Initial F-16 Qualification Training, Springfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio
November 2002 - December 2003
Assist Weapons Tactician, F-16 Pilot, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
December 2003 - January 2005
Chief of Scheduling & Training, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
January 2005 - May 2007
Mission Planning SME/Life Support Flight Commander, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
May 2007 - January 2009
Commander, 174th Forward Operating Location, Wheeler Sack Army Airfield, N.Y.
January 2009 - January 2010
Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
January 2010 - July 2010
Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 174th Operations Group, Hancock Field, N.Y.
July 2010 - November 2011
Chief Standardization and Evaluation, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
November 2011 - July 2012
Chief Standardization and Evaluation, 174th Operations Group, Hancock Field, N.Y.
July 2012- April 2015
138th Attack Squadron, Director of Operations, 174th Operations Group, Hancock Field, N.Y.
April 2015- May 2015
Interim Squadron Commander, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
May 2015 - May 2016
Commander, 107th Operations Group, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y.
May 2016 - November 2018
Vice Wing Commander, 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
November 2018 - March 2022
Commander, 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
March 2022 - January 2024
Commander, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart ANGB, Newburgh, N.Y.
January 2024 - June 2024
Director of Operations, National Guard Bureau A3/10, Joint Base Andrews, MD.
June 2024 - January 2026
Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Latham, N.Y.
24. January 2026 - Present
Commander, New York Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Latham, N.Y.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, MQ-9, C-17A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Legion of Merit with one oak leaf
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant June 30, 2000
First Lieutenant June 30, 2002
Captain June 30, 2004
Major Oct. 9, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 20, 2013
Colonel Dec. 7, 2016
Brigadier General June 1, 2022
Major General Jan 1, 2026