C . Donald Alston C Donald Alston is a Major General in the United States Air Force . Career . Alston graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1978 . He was then sent to Sheppard Air Force Base and Vandenberg Air Force Base for intercontinental ballistic missile combat crew training . In 1979 , he became a deputy missile combat crew commander with the 571st Strategic Missile Squadron and the 390th Strategic Missile Wing . With the 390th , he also served as an instructor . In 1981 , he was named a LGM - 25C Titan II missile combat crew commander with the 570th Strategic Missile Squadron before returning to the 390th as an emergency war order training instructor in 1982 . From 1984 to 1987 , Alston served as Chief , Emergency War Order Training Branch and Chief , Plans Division , Directorate of Missiles , Headquarters 15th Air Force . In 1987 , he became Congressional Inquiries Officer , United States House of Representatives , Air Force Legislative Liaison in the Office of the United States Secretary of the Air Force . He later became Liaison Officer . In 1991 , he was named Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force . Alston held command of the 12th Missile Squadron from 1993 to 1994 . In 1995 , he became Deputy Director , Commander ' s Action Group , Headquarters Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base . He later became Executive Officer to the Vice Commander , as well as Chief , Requirements Integration Branch and Chief , Integration Division , Directorate of Plans at Headquarters Air Force Space Command . From 1999 to 2001 , he served as Commander of the 341st Operations Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base before returning to Peterson Air Force Base as Vice Commander of the 21st Space Wing . He was then given command of the 341st Space Wing at Malmstrom before again returning to Headquarters Air Force Space Command as Assistant Director , Air and Space Operations . In 2005 , Alston deployed to serve in the Iraq War with the Multi - National Force - Iraq . He served as Deputy Chief of Staff , Strategic Communications and Chief , Communications Division , Strategic Effects of the Mult - National Force - Iraq . Additionally , he served as the command ' s spokesperson . After returning to the United States , Alston was named Director of Air , Space and Information Operations at Headquarters Air Force Space Command . In 2007 , he was transferred to The Pentagon and became Director , Space and Nuclear Operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air , Space and Information Operations , Plans and Requirements . He later became Director , Nuclear Operations and Assistant Chief of Staff , Strategic Defense and Nuclear Integration . In 2010 , Alston was named Commander of the Twentieth Air Force . In 2012 , June 22 , Alston will retire from military service , and be replaced as Commander of the Twentieth Air Force . Awards he has received include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , the Bronze Star Medal , the Defense Meritorious Service Medal , the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters , the Joint Service Commendation Medal , the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster , the Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster , the Outstanding Unit Award with silver and three oak leaf clusters , the Organizational Excellence Award , the Combat Readiness Medal , the National Defense Service Medal with service star and the Iraq Campaign Medal .