Brig. Gen. James G. Silvasy is the Illinois Air National Guard Chief of Staff. He is responsible for the command, control, and operations of plans and programs affecting more than 3,000 airmen of the Illinois Air National Guard. His broad range of responsibilities include ensuring the combat readiness and domestic operations response capabilities of the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, the 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria Illinois, and the 183d Wing, Springfield, Illinois. These organizations are comprised of flying wings, command and control facilities, and logistics and mission support units, all providing mission ready personnel to meet United States Air Force and State of Illinois requirements.
General Silvasy was commissioned after graduating from the University of New Hampshire’s Army ROTC. He served in the United States Army as a MEDEVAC pilot with the 507th Air Ambulance Company, Fort Sam Houston, TX. In 1990 he joined the 126th Air Refueling Wing, ILANG and attended the USAF Fixed Wing Conversion Course, qualifying in the KC-135E. In 2000, General Silvasy joined the 128th Air Refueling Wing, WIANG, serving as a Flight Commander and KC-135 instructor pilot. In 2013, he joined the 183d Wing, ILANG and served in various command positions to include the 183d Air Operations Group, 183d Air Mobility Operations Squadron, and Joint Task Force – Illinois prior to his current assignment.
General Silvasy is a Command Pilot with over 4,900 flight hours in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. He has over 150 combat hours and is a veteran of Operations Restore Hope, Deny Flight, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Unified Protector. He is a qualified Dual Status Commander. General Silvasy has been a commercial airline pilot since 1996 with over 10,000 hours in the B-747, B-777, B-767, B-757 and B-727 aircraft.
EDUCATION
1985 Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration, University of New Hampshire, Durham
1986 Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
1990 Fixed Wing Conversion Course, Vance Air Force Base (AFB), Okla.
1991 KC-135 Initial Qualification Course, Castle AFB, Calif.
1992 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1999 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Combat Flight Instructor Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Mobility Division Initial Qualification Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2014 Air National Guard Intermediate Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2015 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2015 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2015 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2016 Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2016 Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1985 - June 1986, Student, Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2. June 1986 - July 1987, Aeromedical Evacuation Officer, 507th Medical Company, Fort Sam
Houston, Texas
3. July 1987 - June 1988, Section Leader, 507th Medical Company, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
4. June 1988 - June 1990, Assistant Flight Operations Officer, 507th Medical Company, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
5. June 1990 - May 1991, Student, Fixed Wing Qualification Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
6. May 1991 - May 1993, KC-135E Pilot, 126th Air Refueling Heavy Squadron, O'Hare International Airport, Ill.
7. May 1993 - January 1995, Aircraft Commander, 108th Air Refueling Squadron, O'Hare IAP, Ill.
8. January 1995 - January 1996, Pilot Tanker KC135, 108th Air Refueling Squadron, O'Hare IAP, Ill.
9. January 1996 - January 2000, Aircraft Commander KC-135E, 108th Air Refueling Squadron, O'Hare IAP, Ill.
10. January 2000 - January 2004, Aircraft Commander KC-135, 126th Air Refueling Squadron, Gen Mitchell IAP, Wis.
11. January 2004 - January 2005, Instructor Pilot KC-135, 126th Air Refueling Squadron, Gen Mitchell IAP, Wis.
12. January 2005 - January 2007, Instructor Pilot KC-135/Assistant Flight Commander, 128th Air Refueling Wing, Gen Mitchell IAP, Wis.
13. January 2007 - June 2013, Flight Commander/Instructor Pilot KC-135, 126th Air Refueling Squadron, Gen Mitchell IAP, Wis.
14. June 2013 - February 2014, Flight Commander, Combat Plans, 183d Air Operations Squadron, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Ill.
15. February 2014 - February 2016, Commander/Chief, Air Mobility Division, 183d Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Ill.
16. February 2020 - Present, Chief of Staff, JFHQ ILANG, Springfield, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,900
Aircraft flown: UH-1V, T-37 B, T-38A, KC-135E, KC-135R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION
Brig. Gen. Silvasy is currently an international airline pilot with a major U.S. carrier. He has more than 10,000 flight hours, flying the DC-10, Boeing 727, 747, 757, 765 and 777.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 25, 1985
First Lieutenant Dec. 3, 1986
Captain Dec. 1, 1988
Major Jan. 7, 1996
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 7, 2003
Colonel Dec. 11, 2014
Brigadier General Feb. 8, 2020
(Current as of February 2020)