By Maj. Dale Greer, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
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Col. Gregory L. Nelson
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Col. Gregory L. Nelson, commander of the Louisville, Ky.-based 123rd Airlift Wing, has been selected to fill the newly created position of deputy J-5 at the National Guard Bureau and will assume the rank of brigadier general, Kentucky’s adjutant general announced Aug. 2.
“I want to congratulate Colonel Nelson for this very prestigious national-level planning position,” Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini said in making the announcement. “I believe it is a direct reflection of the first-class job he has done for the past three years as the 123rd Airlift Wing commander.
“Of course, he would be the first to recognize that his success is due to the exceptional level of professional displayed by the 1,200 Airmen that make up this nation’s finest Air National Guard wing.”
Col. Warren Hurst, commander of the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group, has been named to succeed Nelson as wing commander. A formal change-of-command ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Louisville Air Guard Base on Sept. 16.
A J-5 is also known as the director of strategic plans and policy. As deputy J-5, Nelson will be responsible for assisting the National Guard Bureau’s J-5, vice chief and chief in 11 major areas, including:
>> Developing, promulgating and implementing NGB strategy, planning guidance and policy related to current and future plans
>> Formulating NGB joint strategy plans, documents and studies
>> Overseeing resources and management of the National Guard State Partnership Program, bilateral agreements and other international matters
>> Coordinating with the Office of Secretary of Defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff/Joint Staff, Department of State, combatant commands, services, states/territories and adjutants general as appropriate, for National Guard input and support of theater security cooperation plans
>> Advising and assisting with joint deliberate and programmatic planning matters
>> Supporting requirements for research, analysis and documentation
Colonel Nelson is a master navigator who has held multiple leadership and senior staff positions. He was named wing commander in October 2008 and deployed to Southwest Asia in 2010 to serve as deputy director of mobility forces for United States Central Command. Previously, Nelson was director of strategic plans and programs for Joint Force Headquarters, Kentucky National Guard, and was the first deputy director of mobility forces for Air Force Northern Command. He also commanded the 123rd Airlift Control Flight.
Nelson’s military career spans more than 36 years, including nine years of enlisted service prior to his commissioning in 1984. He has participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Provide Promise, Joint Forge, Joint Guard, Coronet Oak, Phoenix Oak, Bright Star, Partnership For Peace, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Fundamental Justice, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.