Department of the United States Air Force LogoBiography
                  United States Air Force111219-F-JZ017-261.JPGEffective Dates of Promotion
                      
                      Second Lieutenant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                May 31, 1978First Lieutenant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 31, 1980Captain                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          May 31, 1982Major                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            April 01, 1989Lieutenant Colonel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               June 01, 1993Colonel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          September 01, 1998Brigadier General                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                August 01, 2005Major General                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    September 02, 2008
            Major General C. DONALD ALSTONMaj. Gen. C. Donald Alston is Commander, 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Task Force 214, U.S. Strategic Command, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. He is responsible for the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force, organized into three operational wings with more than 9,600 people.
General Alston was commissioned in 1978 following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and served as the first Assistant Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He has worked as a liaison officer to the U.S. House of Representatives, and also performed duties as the executive assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C. General Alston also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Communications and the spokesperson for Multi-National Force - Iraq in Baghdad.**EDUCATION**
1978 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1984 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1986 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1986 Master's degree in business administration, Golden Gate University, Calif.
1995 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1998 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2003 National Security Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University
2011 Senior Executives in National and International Security Program, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education**ASSIGNMENTS**
1. July 1978 - January 1979, ICBM combat crew training, Sheppard AFB, Texas; and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2. January 1979 - December 1980, deputy missile combat crew commander, 571st Strategic Missile Squadron; and instructor and deputy missile combat crew member, 390th Strategic Missile Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
3. January 1981 - February 1982, Titan II missile combat crew commander, 570th Strategic Missile Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. February 1982 - March 1984, emergency war order training instructor, 390th Strategic Missile Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. March 1984 - May 1984, student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. May 1984 - August 1987, Chief, Emergency War Order Training Branch, and Chief, Plans Division, Directorate of Missiles, Headquarters 15th Air Force, March AFB, Calif.
7. August 1987 - December 1990, congressional inquiries officer, later, liaison officer, U.S. House of Representatives, Air Force Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
8. January 1991 - March 1993, executive assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
9. June 1993 - July 1994, Commander, 12th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
10. August 1994 - June 1995, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 1995 - May 1996, Deputy Director, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
12. May 1996 - July 1997, executive officer to the Vice Commander, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
13. July 1997 - July 1999, Chief, Requirements Integration Branch, later, Chief, Integration Division, Directorate of Plans, U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. August 1999 - March 2001, Commander, 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
15. March 2001 - July 2002, Vice Commander, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo.
16. July 2002 - July 2004, Commander, 341st Space Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
17. July 2004 - February 2005, Assistant Director, Air and Space Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
18. February 2005 - February 2006, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Communications, and spokesperson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
19. February 2006 - September 2007, Director of Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
20. September 2007 - February 2008, Director, Space and Nuclear Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
21. February 2008 - October 2008, Director, Nuclear Operations, Plans and Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 
22. November 2008 - June 2010, Assistant Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
23. July 2010 - present, Commander, 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Task Force 214, U.S. Strategic Command, Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyo.**SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS**
1. May 1997 - May 1998, Chief, Requirements and Integration Branch, Headquarters USSPACECOM, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a lieutenant colonel
2. May 1998 - May 1999, Chief, Integration Division, Headquarters USSPACECOM, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a colonel
3. February 2005 - February 2006, Chief, Communications Division, Strategic Effects, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq, as a brigadier general**OPERATIONAL INFORMATION**
Badges: Master Missile Badge with operations designator; Master Space Badge; basic parachutist
Weapon Systems: Titan II, Minuteman III A-M CDB, Minuteman III REACT A/B**MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS**
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal
(Current as of December 2011)Department of the Air Force Logo