Nicholas A. Gentile, Jr. is the Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. As the Deputy Director, he is responsible for supporting the execution of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North
America to include the Canadian, Alaskan, and continental United States NORAD Regions within the bi- national command. General Gentile graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science. Following pilot and fighter training, he served in various operational units in
Pacific Air Forces, Air Forces Europe, and Air Combat Command. In December 1999, he joined the South Carolina Air National Guard, where he held numerous fighter, instructor, operations, and command positions, to include flight, squadron, vice and wing command. He has also served as the Division
Chief, Integrated Air & Missile Defense, U.S. Air Forces Central and as the Chief, Operational Plans, Readiness and Execution, National Guard Bureau. Additionally, he served as the Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, for Readiness and warfighting, and served as the Director of Operations, A2/3/6/10, ANG Readiness Center, National Guard Bureau, where he oversaw an expansive portfolio to include all air, space, cyber, intelligence, and nuclear operations ensuring the 107,700 Air Guardsmen are ready for all homeland defense, domestic operations, and warfighting taskings and mobilizations.
Prior to his current assignment, he was the Deputy Director, Partnering, Security Cooperation, and Weapons of Mass Destruction, J5/8, at U.S. European Command (USEUCOM). He was responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing policies, strategies, and guidance in order to meet national strategic military objectives and desired end states in the European area of responsibility.
General Gentile is a command pilot with more than 3,000 hours. He has flown 108 combat sorties and over 440 hours supporting Operations DELIBERATE FORGE, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science degree in Human Factors Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
1993 Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management, Troy University, Troy, Ala.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., excellent graduate, by correspondence
2011 Ballistic Missile Defense Staff Officers Course, Missile Defense Agency, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2015 Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Wash, D.C.
2016 Joint Task Force Commanders Training Course, US Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2016 Dual Status Commanders Course, US Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2016 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Cyber 400 course, Air Force Cyberspace Center of Excellence, Washington, D.C.
2019 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2019 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2019 Space Operations Executive Course, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
2020 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2021 National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC), Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public
Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse Ny.
2023 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course (CFACC), LeMay Center, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Airlie Conference Center, Warrenton, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 1990 – August 1991, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
- September 1991 – September 1993, EA Controller, Command Post, Section Commander, 21st TASS, Shaw
AFB, S.C. - October 1993 – December 1993, T-38 requalification, Reese AFB, Texas
- January 1994 – March 1994, AT-38 Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Columbus AFB, Miss.
- April 1994 – December 1994, F-16C Student, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
- January 1995 – May 1996, Electronic Combat Pilot, Scheduler, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base,
Republic of Korea - June 1996 – July 1996, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- August 1996 – December 1999, 555th Fighter Squadron, Chief, Standards/Evaluation, Chief, Wing
Scheduling, Aviano AB, Italy - December 1999 – September 2005, 157th Fighter Squadron, SCIF Project Officer, McEntire Joint National
Guard Base, S.C. - September 2005 – March 2008, 157th Fighter Squadron, Flight Commander, Instructor, SCIF lead planner,
McEntire JNGB, S.C. - March 2008 – February 2011, Commander, Instructor, 169th Operational Support Squadron, McEntire
JNGB, S.C. - September 2010 – March 2013, Division Chief, Integrated Air & Missile Defense, US Air Forces Central,
Shaw AFB, S.C. - February 2011 – March 2013, Director of Operations (J3/5), Plans & State Air Operations Branch, Joint
Force Headquarters, Columbia, S.C. - April 2013 – October 2014, NGB/A3X, Chief, Operational Plans & Execution, NGB, ANG Readiness Center,
Joint Base Andrews, Md. - October 2014 – May 2016, Vice Commander, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, Columbia, S.C.
- May 2016 – June 2018, Wing Commander and Installation Commander, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire
JNGB, Columbia, S.C. - June 2018 – July 2020, Director of Operations, A-2/3/6/10, ANG Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
- July 2020 – December 2020, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, for Operational
Readiness, Pentagon, Arlington, Va. - December 2020 – August 2022, Deputy Director (J5/8) of Partnering, Security Cooperation, and Weapons of
Mass Destruction, US European Command Headquarters, Stuttgart, Germany - August 2022 – present, Deputy Director of Operations (J3), Headquarters North American Aerospace
Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS - September 2010 – March 2013, Division Chief, Integrated Air & Missile Defense, US Air Forces Central, Shaw
AFB, S.C. as a Colonel - February 2011 – March 2013, Director of Operations (J3/5), Plans & State Air Operations Branch, Joint Force
Headquarters, Columbia, S.C. as a Colonel - December 2020 – August 2022, Deputy Director (J5/8) of Partnering, Security Cooperation, and Weapons of
Mass Destruction, US European Command Headquarters, Stuttgart, Germany as a Brigadier General - August 2022–present, Deputy Director of Operations (J3), NORAD, Peterson SFB, Colo., as a Major General
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot / Commercial Air Transport Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,000 USAF hrs including over 440 combat hrs
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38, F-16 (Blocks 30, 40/42, 50/52) / B-727, MD-88, B-737, B-757, B-767, B-767ER
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Action Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 1990
First Lieutenant May 30, 1992
Captain May 30, 1994
Major Nov. 20, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 20, 2007
Colonel Feb. 24, 2012
Brigadier General June 25, 2018
Major General Aug. 1, 2022
