General James W. Schroeder is the 11th Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Illinois National Guard. He serves as the Commander, Illinois Air National Guard. As the Assistant Adjutant General- Air General Schroeder is responsible for the command, control, and operation of plans and programs affecting more than 3,000 Illinois Air National Guard personnel located at Scott Air Force Base, Peoria and Springfield. His broad range of responsibilities include insuring combat readiness and mission capability of three major air bases comprised of flying wings, command and control facilities, logistics and mission support units, providing combat trained personnel to meet all United States Air Force mission requirements. General Schroeder also supervises a full-time force of over 900 federal and state employees. In his civilian life, he is a pilot with American Airlines.

General Schroeder's most recent assignment prior to being selected as Assistant Adjutant General-Air was the Chief of Staff for the Illinois Air National Guard. As the Chief of Staff, he developed homeland security initiatives in conjunction with Illinois Army National Guard and civilian agencies. General Schroeder assisted in the initial setup of the aerial refueling training operation at Geilenkirchen AB, Germany. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he accumulated the most flying hours of any member in the expeditionary wing. General Schroeder flew Combat Air Patrol sorties in support of Operation Noble Eagle, and deployed to fly combat support mission in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedoms. He has flown more than 13,000 civilian and military hours and received his pilot wings from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

General Schroeder was commissioned in 1982 as a graduate of the United States Air Force Officer Training School. He received a Bachelor of Science, Industrial Technology from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois and Air War College by correspondence.

General Schroeder's military awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, 2 awards; Air Medal, 2 awards; Air Force Achievement Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 3 awards; Combat Readiness Medal, 8 awards; National Defense Service Medal, 2 awards; Southwest Asia Service Medal, 3 awards; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, 6 awards; Armed Forces Reserve Medal, 20 years of service and 2 mobilizations; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; Air Force Training Ribbon; Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait; Illinois Long and Honorable Service Medal, 2 awards; Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon, 9 awards and Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon.

General Schroeder is married and has 3 daughters.

 

As of 14 Oct 2010