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    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      080320-F-JZ511-646.JPGEngage On
        
        080320-F-JZ511-646.JPGMAJOR GENERAL THOMAS L. CARTERMaj. Gen. Thomas L. Carter is the mobilization assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. 
General Carter's Air Force career included airlift unit assignments, rising to instructor and flight examiner status. He flew numerous special operations missions including the initial deployment of rescue forces into Grenada. He is a command pilot with 4,000 military flying hours and more than 10,000 total hours. The general left active duty in 1986 after serving as President Ronald Reagan's Air Force aide. 
General Carter served for three years as an assistant to Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole, responsible for staffing national security and veterans issues. He has also served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs under Secretary Cheney, a position in which he was responsible for the entire Department of Defense Senate Liaison function during operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Just Cause. General Carter was the Assistant to the Chairman for Government Relations, Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and most recently served as Ambassador L. Paul Bremer's Senior Counselor for Legislative Affairs both in Iraq and Washington. He was responsible for all legislative interface with Congress as well as substantial intra-executive branch coordination for the Coalition Provisional Authority. **EDUCATION**1974 Bachelor of Science degree in geology, University of Memphis, Tenn. 
1979 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence 
1983 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar 
1986 National Security Management Course, by correspondence 
1990 Master of Arts degree in national security studies, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.**ASSIGNMENTS**1. November 1975 - January 1977, student, undergraduate pilot training, 29th Student Squadron, Craig Air Force Base, Ala. 
2. January 1977 - June 1977, pilot initial qualification, 443rd Technical Training Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla. 
3. June 1977 - March 1979, C-141 transport pilot, 20th Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. 
4. March 1979 - September 1979, C-141 aircraft commander, 20th Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. 
5. September 1979 - July 1980, C-141 instructor pilot, 20th Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. 
6. July 1980 - August 1981, executive assistant, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations and Environment, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
7. Augu81 - August 1982, C-14 instructor aircraft commander, 14th Military Airlift Squadron, Norton AFB, Calif. 
8. August 1982 - July 1983, C-141 air operations officer, 63rd Military Airlift Wing, Norton AFB, Calif. 
9. July 1983 - June 1984, Chief, Aircrew Standardization and Evaluation, 14th Military Airlift Squadron, Norton AFB, Calif. 
10. June 1984 - June 1986, Air Force aide to the President, the White House, Washington, D.C.
11. June 1986 - June 1988, C-141 instructor pilot, 756th Military Airlift Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md. 
12. June 1988 - December 1989, flight commander, 756th Military Airlift Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md. 
13. December 1989 - December 1990, Chief of Safety, 459th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.
14. December 1990 - August 1993, senate liaison officer, Office of Legislative Liaison, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
15. August 1993 - January 1997, Chief, Senate Liaison Office, Office of Legislative Liaison, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
16. January 1997 - January 2004, mobilization assistant to the Director, Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. January 2004 - present, mobilization assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.**MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS**Defense Superior Service Medal 
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster 
Air Medal 
Air Force Commendation Medal 
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters 
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with bronze star 
Air Force Longevity Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster 
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon 
Air Force Training Ribbon **EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION**Second Lieutenant Nov. 29, 1975 
First Lieutenant Nov. 29, 1978 
Captain June 29, 1979 
Major Aug. 1, 1984 
Lieutenant Colonel June14, 1990 
Colonel July 1, 1994 
Brigadier General Dec. 1, 1999 
Major General May 15, 2005 
(Current as of March 2008)
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