Roger E. Combs (February 22, 1945 – August 22, 2018) was an American major general in the

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...

and an Associate Circuit Judge in Missouri's 4th Judicial Circuit. His last military assignment was as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) for the

National Guard Bureau The National Guard Bureau is the federal instrument responsible for the administration of the National Guard established by the United States Congress as a joint bureau of the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force. It was cre ...

. Previously, General Combs was Assistant Adjutant General-Air and deputy commander of Joint Forces Headquarters, Missouri. He also served as the Air National Guard assistant to commander,

First Air Force The First Air Force (Air Forces Northern; 1 AF-AFNORTH) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Co ...

, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

Military career

Combs began his military career by attending United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in 1968. After designation as a

naval aviator Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...

, he served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a CH-46 combat helicopter pilot with

HMM-364 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 (VMM-364) is a United States Marine Corps medium-lift tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22B Ospreys. The squadron, known as the "Purple Foxes", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Californi ...

, Marble Mountain Air Facility, Republic of Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. During his time with HMM-364 he was a helicopter second pilot, aircraft commander/squadron administrative officer, section leader, division leader/assistant operations officer, and flight leader. Upon returning to the United States Combs briefly served as assistant

officer selection officer A Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer (OSO) leads a team of Marines and civilian employees in the recruitment of college students and graduates for a Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Responsibilities An OSO is r ...

at United States Marine Corps Recruit Station, Kansas City before joining

HMM-263 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263) is a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft. The squadron, known as the "Thunder Chickens", is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, Nor ...

Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico (MCAF Quantico) is a United States Marine Corps airfield located within Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. It was commissioned in 1919 and is currently home to HMX-1, the squadron that flies the President of ...

. Leaving active duty in 1973, Combs joined the 635th Aviation Company,

Missouri Army National Guard The Missouri National Guard (MONG), commonly known as the Missouri Guard, is a component of the Army National Guard and Missouri State Department of the National Guard. It is composed of Army and Air National Guard units. The Department office is ...

where he was a

UH-1 The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey") is a utility military helicopter designed and produced by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter. It is the first member of the prolific Huey family, as well as the first turbine-powered helico ...

aircraft commander. In 1981, he transferred to the Missouri Air National Guard where he then served a number of years as director of intelligence for a

C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 ...

Airlift Wing. After transferring to Headquarters, Missouri Air National Guard, Combs became engaged in, and became nationally recognized for his expertise in long range and strategic planning. He served as the state plans and programs officer and later served as the Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Missouri National Guard. His last military assignment was as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) for the National Guard Bureau. In this position he was responsible to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to develop, promulgate and implement policy, plans, concepts and strategy for the nearly half million citizen soldiers and airmen of the Army and Air National Guard. His duties touched and concerned war-fighting, peacetime international activities and aspects of the federal and state homeland security and civil support missions of both the National Guard Bureau and the corporate National Guard. The mission scope of the J-5 Directorate also includes representing the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in Department of Defense, inter-agency, intergovernmental and non-governmental forums. He was a member of the Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee. While he holds no United States Air Force rating, he is an aircraft commander who has earned ratings as a Naval Aviator and a Senior Army Aviator. He has over 2,500 flying hours in four types of rotary wing aircraft including more than 500 hours of combat time in a CH-46.

Promotions

Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

, May 5, 1968 * First Lieutenant, July 1, 1969 *

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, April 1, 1971 *

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

, April 11, 1981 *

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

, May 2, 1989 * Colonel, December 4, 1994 * Brigadier General, November 7, 1999 * Major General, March 15, 2004

Awards and decorations

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal * Legion of Merit ribbon

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

Distinguished Flying Cross * Meritorious Service Medal ribbon

Meritorious Service Medal * Award star (gold)

Air Medal with Gold star and

Strike/Flight numerals A Strike/Flight Numeral is a Department of the Navy device that may be awarded for wear on the Air Medal to individuals serving in any capacity in the United States Armed Forces. A Strike/Flight Award is awarded to individuals for meritorious achi ...

"37" *

Air Force Commendation Medal * Navy Achievement Medal Valor * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award * Organizational Excellence ribbon

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award The Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award (ASOEA) is a unit award of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force created by the Secretary of the Air Force on 26 August 1969 as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The award i ...

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation *

National Defense Service Medal *

Vietnam Service Medal * Air Force Longevity Service ribbon

Air Force Longevity Service Award The Air and Space Longevity Service Award (ASLSA) is a military award of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force established as the Air Force Longevity Service Award by Air Force General Order 60, on 25 November 1957 by General ...

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass device *

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star *

Air Force Training Ribbon * VNCivilActionsRibbon-2

Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation (Vietnam) * Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp

Campaign Medal A campaign medal is a military decoration which is awarded to a member of an armed force who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater. Campaign medals are very similar to service medals but carry a high ...

(Vietnam) * Meritorious Service Medal Missouri National Guard

Missouri Meritorious Service Medal * Missouri 20 Year Long Service Ribbon

Missouri National Guard 20 Year Long Service Ribbon with silver hawthorn cluster (30 years service)

Other Achievements

*National Guard Association of the United States Distinguished Service Medal, 2003

Civilian career

A 1975 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, Combs practiced law in St Joseph, Missouri. He later served as Gentry County Prosecuting Attorney for 10 years. Combs was an Associate Circuit Judge in Missouri's 4th Judicial Circuit.

Education

*1968 Bachelor of Science degree, University of Missouri. *1975

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...

degree, University of Missouri. *1983 United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, by correspondence *1988 National Security Management Course

Death

Combs died at his home in King City, Missouri on August 22, 2018. He is inurned at Arlington National Cemetery.

References

External links

House Resolution No. 1544, adopted April 6, 2004
Missouri House of Representatives.

Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007). {{DEFAULTSORT:Combs, Roger 1945 births 2018 deaths National Guard (United States) generals United States Army officers United States Marine Corps officers Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War University of Missouri alumni Recipients of the Air Medal Missouri National Guard personnel Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal American Senior Army Aviators