MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM R. COTNEY

 

Assistant Adjutant General, Air
Tennessee National Guard

Major General William R. Cotney serves as the assistant adjutant general for the Tennessee Air National Guard. General Cotney commands and insures the readiness of Tennessee's three flying and three mission support units.  The flying units consist of a C-130 Wing in Nashville, a C-5 Wing in Memphis and a KC-135 Wing in Knoxville.

An Alabama native, General Cotney served as the Commander of the 164th Airlift Wing, at Memphis, Tennessee prior to assuming his current position. General Cotney received his commission through Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in August 1971 and received his Pilot Wings from Lauglin AFB, Texas in October 1972.  General Cotney is a Command Pilot with over 10,000 flying hours in C-7A, C-130A, C-130H, C141B, C141C & Boeing 727 Aircraft.  General Cotney served in an activated status for 12 months during Operation Enduring Freedom in Germany, executing the European Strategic Intratheater Deployment Mission resupplying the Area of Operation for the Middle East.

EDUCATION:

1971 - Bachelor degree in Personnel Management, Jacksonville State University
1976 - Masters degree in Public Administration, Auburn University
1977 - Squadron Officers School
1987 - Air Command and General Staff College
1992 - Air War College Seminar Course

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.  October 1971 - November 1972, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX.
2.  November 1972 - November 1975, Flight Safety Officer, 908th Tactical Airlift Group, Maxwell AFB, AL
3.  November 1975 - May 1982, Instructor/Examiner Pilot, 908th Tactical Airlift Group,
4.  May 1982 - November 1985, Pilot Standards/Evaluations Officer, 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis, TN
5.  November 1985 - September 1988, Wing Flying Safety Officer, 164th Airlift Wing
6.  September 1988 - February 1995, Air Operations Officer, 164th Airlift Wing
7.  February 1995 - December 1995, 155th Airlift Squadron Commander, 164th Airlift Wing
8.  December 1995 - June 1996, Operations Group Commander, 164th Airlift Wing
9.  June 1996 - October 2001, Vice Commander, 164th Airlift Wing
10.  October 2001 - March 2003, Commander, 164th Airlift Wing
11.  April 2003 - Present, Assistant Adjutant General Air, TN ANG, Nashville, TN.

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 10,000 hours
Aircraft Flown: C-7A, C-130A, C-130H, C-141B, C-141C

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:


Meritorious Service Medal with device
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with device
AF Outstanding Unit Award with four devices
Combat Readiness Medal with six devices
National Defense Service Medal with two devices
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Services Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Short
AF Longevity Service with six devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one 'M' Device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
AF Training Ribbon
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS: 

Second Lieutenant                     23 August 1971                        
First Lieutenant                          23 January 1974                       
Captain                                      28 October 1977                                  
Major                                        23 August 1985                        
Lieutenant Colonel                     15 September 1991                  
Colonel                                        3 December 1995
Brigadier General                         6 February 2004
Major General                           18 November 2005

(Current as of January 2006)