C. Donald Alston
Encyclopedia
C Donald Alston is a Major General
in the United States Air Force
.
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
.
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
.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Career
Alston graduated from the United States Air Force AcademyUnited States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
in 1978. He was then sent to Sheppard Air Force Base
Sheppard Air Force Base
Sheppard Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located five miles north of the central business district of Wichita Falls, in Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is the largest training base and most diversified in Air Education and Training Command...
and Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
for intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
combat crew training.
In 1979, he became a deputy missile combat crew commander with the 571st Strategic Missile Squadron
571st Strategic Missile Squadron
The 571st Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 390th Strategic Missile Wing, stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It was inactivated on 31 July 1984.-History:...
and the 390th Strategic Missile Wing
390th Strategic Missile Wing
The 390th Strategic Missile Wing was a United States Air Force Strategic Air Command organization. Its mission was to maintain and operationally control intercontinental ballistic missiles ....
. 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
570th Strategic Missile Squadron
The 570th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 390th Strategic Missile Wing, stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It was inactivated on 31 July 1984.-History:...
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
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Air Force Legislative Liaison in the Office of the United States Secretary of the Air Force
United States Secretary of the Air Force
The Secretary of the Air Force is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...
. 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
12th Missile Squadron
The United States Air Force's 12th Missile Squadron is a missile unit located at Malmstrom AFB, Montana.-Mission:The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces.-Heraldry:...
from 1993 to 1994. In 1995, he became Deputy Director, Commander's Action Group, Headquarters Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
at Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
. 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
341st Missile Wing
The United States Air Force's 341st Missile Wing is an intercontinental ballistic missile unit headquartered at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
at Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom...
before returning to Peterson Air Force Base as Vice Commander of the 21st Space Wing
21st Space Wing
The 21st Space Wing is a unit of the Air Force Space Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The unit is tasked with the operation of early missile warning and space object detection equipment around the world in support of NORAD and USSTRATCOM through a network of command and control...
. 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Alston was named Director of Air, Space and Information Operations at Headquarters Air Force Space Command. In 2007, he was transferred to The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
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
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
.
Awards he has received include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
, the Air Force Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Achievement Medal
Achievement Medal
The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
with oak leaf cluster, the Outstanding Unit Award
Outstanding Unit Award
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. The award is presented as a ribbon to any command of the U.S...
with silver and three oak leaf clusters, the Organizational Excellence Award
Organizational Excellence Award
The Air Force Organizational Excellence Award is an award of the United States Air Force and is the lowest ranking unit award. The award was first created in 1969 and is presented to Air Force internal organizations that are entities within larger organizations...
, the Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
The Combat Readiness Medal is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1964. The original Combat Readiness Medal was an award senior to the Air Force Commendation Medal and was awarded for superior and meritorious duty to the United States Air Force...
, the National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
with service star
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
and the Iraq Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
The Iraq Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004. The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry....
.
Education
- United States Air Force Academy
- Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityGolden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...
- Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public AffairsMaxwell School of Citizenship and Public AffairsThe Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is the public policy school of Syracuse University...
- Syracuse UniversitySyracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...