Col. Gary R. Charlton II is the commander, 107th Attack Wing, New York Air National Guard, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, N.Y. He commands the 107th Attack Wing, encompassing operations, medical, and mission support group functions as well as, two geographically separated units. He is responsible for the deployment and employment of assigned personnel and equipment to ensure these assets are available to support all state and national requirements.

Charlton enlisted in the New York Air National Guard in May 1990 and served as a fuels systems technician. He graduated from Columbia College in 1995 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He then commissioned in 2000 and attended undergraduate pilot training in 2001. Charlton completed initial F-16 qualification training in 2002 and served as an F-16C pilot flying with the 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y. He has held the positions of flight, detachment and squadron commander of the 138th Fighter Squadron; as well as 107th Operations Group commander. Prior to his current assignment, he was the vice commander of the 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

A combat veteran, Charlton served seven combat deployments, three while enlisted, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, and Northern Watch, and four additional deployments flying F-16C combat missions in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He is a command pilot with over 3,200 flying hours in the T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, and MQ-9.

EDUCATION 

1995 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Columbia College, Mo. 
1999 Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn. 
2000 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn. 
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence 
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 
2016 Commander Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Norfolk Naval Support Activity, Va. 
2018 USAF Wing Commanders’ Seminar, Maxwell AFB, Ala.  
2018 Wing Commander Executive Level Response Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2018 USAF Senior Leaders’ Mission Generation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2018 Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2018 Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. May 1990–June 2000, Fuels System Technician, Enlisted into the New York Air National Guard,
Hancock Field, N.Y
2.    November 2000–March 2001, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Del
Rio, Texas
3.    March 2001–November 2002, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody Air Force
Base, Ga.
4. November 2002–December 2003 , Student, Initial F-16 Qualification Training, Springfield Air
National Guard Base, Ohio
5.    December 2003–January 2005, Chief of Scheduling & Training, 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock
Field, N.Y.
6. January 2005–May 2007, Mission Planning SME/Life Support Flight Commander, 138th Fighter 
Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
7.    June 2007–February 2009, Commander, 174th Forward Operating Location, Wheeler Sack Army Air
Field, N.Y.
8. February 2009–November 2011, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 174th Operation Support Squadron,
Hancock Field, N.Y.
9. November 2011–October 2012, Chief Standardization & Evaluations, 174th Operations Group, Hancock
Field,  N.Y.
10.  October 2012–September 2014, Director of Operations, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field,
N.Y.
11.  September 2014–May 2015, Commander, 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field, N.Y.
12.  May 2015–May 2016, Commander, 107th Operations Group, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
13.  May 2016–November 2018, Vice Wing Commander, 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
14.  November 2018–Present, 107th Attack Wing Commander, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: command pilot 
Flight hours: more than 3,200
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf cluster 
Air Medal with two oak leaf cluster 
Aerial Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf cluster Air Force Commendation Medal 
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf cluster Combat Readiness Medal 
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant June 30, 2000
First Lieutenant June 30, 2002 
Captain June 30, 2004 
Major Oct. 09, 2008 
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 20, 2013 
Colonel Dec. 7, 2016 
(Current as of January 2019)