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    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      120705-F-JZ011-809.JPGEngage On
        
        120705-F-JZ011-809.JPGBRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT C. NOLAN II**Retiring effective Aug. 1, 2012**
Brig. Gen. Robert C. Nolan II is the Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. He directs the development, test, and evaluation of manned and unmanned aircraft systems; the testing of experimental and research aerospace vehicles and parachute systems; and the operation of the Air Force Test Pilot School. He supports the conduct of test and evaluation programs for the Department of Defense, Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. 
General Nolan entered the Air Force as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1983. He served as an operational fighter pilot, a primary flight instructor and an experimental test pilot. His previous Air Force commands included a flight test squadron, an operations group and a test wing. He served on the Joint Staff as Chief, Forces Division, Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate, and as the Assistant Deputy Director for Global Operations, Operations Directorate. He also served as the executive assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
Prior to his current position, General Nolan was the Director of the U.S. Northern Command Standing Joint Force Headquarters. While at NORTHCOM, he served as the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. 5th Army for relief efforts following hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike; the Title10 Deputy Commander for Joint Task Force-G20; the U.S. Southern Command Deputy J3 for phase 1 and 2 of Operation Unified Response. By agreement of the President of the United States and the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, General Nolan became the first federal officer in history to hold a Federal and State commission simultaneously to command Joint Task Force-National Scout Jamboree in support of the historic 100-year anniversary celebration of Scouting in North America. General Nolan is a command pilot with more than 5,600 flight hours in 114 different aircraft types.**EDUCATION**1983 Distinguished Graduate, Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 
1992 Distinguished Graduate, Master's degree in aeronautical engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 
1993 Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif. 
1997 Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2000 Air War College, by correspondence 
2003 Master's degree in national security strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 
2007 Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. 
2009 Executive Course on National and International Security, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.**ASSIGNMENTS**1. August 1983 - August 1984, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams AFB, Ariz. 
2. September 1984 - December 1984, Student, fighter lead-in training, Holloman AFB, N.M. 
3. January 1985 - July 1985, Student, F-4D Replacement Training Unit, Homestead AFB, Fla. 
4. August 1985 - January 1988, F-4E Pilot, 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.
5. February 1988 - July 1990, T-37 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Laughlin AFB, Texas 
6. August 1990 - December 1991, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 
7. February 1992 - June 1993, Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif. 
8. July 1993 - July 1996, Experimental Test Pilot, 39th Flight Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. 
9. August 1996 - June 1997, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
10. July 1997 - May 1999, Experimental Test Pilot and Operations Officer 
11. June 1999 - May 2000, Experimental Test Pilot and Squadron Commander 
12. June 2000 - June 2002, Experimental Test Pilot and Operations Group Commander 
13. July 2002 - June 2003, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 
14. July 2003 - June 2005, Commander, 46th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. 
15. July 2005 - January 2007, Chief, Forces Division, Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate (J8), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 
16. February 2007 - August 2007, Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 
17. September 2007 - June 2008, Assistant Deputy Director for Global Operations, Operations Directorate (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 
18. July 2008 - August 2010, Director, Standing Joint Force Headquarters, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
19. October 2010 - present, Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.**SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS**1. July 2005 - January 2007, Chief, Forces Division, Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate (J8), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel 
2. February 2007 - August 2007, Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel 
3. September 2007 - June 2008, Assistant Deputy Director for Global Operations, Operations Directorate (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
4. July 2008 - August 2010, Director, Standing Joint Force Headquarters, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a brigadier general **FLIGHT INFORMATION**Rating: Command pilot 
Flight hours: More than 5,600 
Aircraft flown: F-4D, F-4E, T-37, F-16, F-22 and F-117 **MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS** 
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters 
Legion of Merit 
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters 
Air Medal 
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters 
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster 
Joint Service Achievement Medal **EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION**Second Lieutenant June 1, 1983 
First Lieutenant June 1, 1985 
Captain June 1, 1987 
Major Nov. 1, 1994 
Lieutenant Colonel Sep. 1, 1998 
Colonel Aug. 1, 2002 
Brigadier General Dec. 1, 2008
(Current as of Aug 2012)
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