Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Sheppard is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Headquarters, United States Indo–Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. He is the deputy military operations advisor to Commander, USINDOPACOM for joint/combined military operations and training. In this position, he monitors the disposition of readiness of assigned U.S. forces and allies, conducts joint/combined training, and recommends employment options during crisis or contingency.
Brig. Gen. Sheppard received his commission in 1996 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. He completed Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in 1998, and has since held a variety of operational, command and leadership positions within the Air National Guard and United States Air Force.
Brig. Gen. Sheppard has significant operational and staff experience having served in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN and NOBLE EAGLE. Prior to his current position, he served as Deputy Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Business Management, United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colo.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2006 Master of Business Administration, International Business, Thunderbird, Glendale, Ariz.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2015 Air War College, by correspondence
2016 Advanced Command and Staff College, United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, Shrivenham, United Kingdom
2020 Regional Seminar, China and The Far East, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2021 Regional Seminar, Africa, Alan L. Freed Associates, Alexandria, Va.
2021 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan–Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1996 – January 1997, 94th Flying Training Squadron, USAFA, Colo.
2. January 1997 – March 1998, Student Pilot, Euro–NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. March 1998 – April 1998, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, 435th Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. April 1998 – February 1999, Student, F-16 Pilot Training, 63d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. February 1999 – February 2000, F-16 Pilot, Assistant Chief of Scheduling, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB,
Republic of Korea
6. February 2000 – September 2002, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Fighter
Enhancement Program Manager, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 55th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
7. September 2002 – March 2006, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 63d Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. March 2006 – March 2009, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 121st Fighter Squadron,
Joint Base Andrews (JBA), Md.
9. March 2009 – March 2012, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 121st Fighter Squadron, JBA, Md.
10. March 2012 – July 2015, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Commander 113th Operations Support Squadron, JBA, Md.
11. July 2015 – December 2017, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Deputy Commander, 113th Operations Group, JBA, Md.
12. December 2017 – December 2018, C-40 Pilot, Vice Wing Commander, 113th Wing, JBA, Md.
13. December 2018 – August 2020, Special Assistant to the Commander, District of Columbia Air National Guard, D.C.
Joint Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
14. August 2020 – May 2021, Division Chief, Force Planning, Basing, Conversions, National Guard Bureau, JBA, Md.
15. May 2021 – May 2022, Deputy Director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, National Guard Bureau, JBA, Md.
16. May 2022 – present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Headquarters, United States Indo-Pacific
Command (USINDOPACOM), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2022 – present, , Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Headquarters, United States Indo-Pacific
Command (USINDOPACOM), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,900 including more than 230 combat hours
Aircraft flown: F-16, C-40, T-37, T-38, AT-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with eight oak leaf clusters
Army Superior Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with one service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 Distinguished Graduate, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1999 Distinguished Graduate, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Randolph AFB, Texas
1999 Distinguished Graduate, F-16 Formal Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1996
First Lieutenant May 29, 1998
Captain May 29, 2000
Major April 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 27, 2011
Colonel June 21, 2016
Brigadier General Feb. 24 2022
(Current as of April 2022)