Air Force ROTC alum, Lt. Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, ’85, nominated for appointment to General
He graduated from Norwich’s Air Force ROTC in 1985 and after 37 years of service, Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, has been appointed four-star General and Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday nominated Bussiere, the No. 2 officer at U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt AFB in Nebraska. In his new role, Bussiere will manage more than 30,000 airmen and strategic assets including nuclear and non-nuclear air craft. The Command also oversees a variety of intercontinental ballistic missiles, helicopters and other services.
Bussiere visited his alma mater two years ago where met with the next generation of leaders while reminiscing about his 3,400 hours as a command pilot in the T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer and F-22 Raptor and the time he led F-15C combat missions during operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior and B-2 combat missions during operations Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.
After two days Bussiere was impressed with new cadets graduating from Norwich.
“I think the long-standing, multidecade connection of Norwich grads is strong and sound. I can guarantee in the Department of Defense that Norwich graduates — officer, enlisted, civilian, Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines, and now (Space Force) Guardians — are connected and stay connected,” said Bussiere.
“Both from a professional development perspective and pride in our alma mater. I think most people realize that. But I just want to reaffirm the commitment to the institution. What the institution gave to everybody who serves is pretty strong.”
Bussiere, currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Offutt AFB, Nebraska, is responsible for strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, global strike, missile defense, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, analysis and targeting, and missile threat assessment. USSTRATCOM is comprised of 150,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and civilians who operate globally performing the command’s missions. The command also provides the Secretary of Defense and President a range of options to deter adversaries and assure allies.
Lt. Gen. Bussiere is a 1985 distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC from Norwich University. He has held a variety of flying, staff and command assignments including the Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense and Current Operations, Joint Staff; Inspector General, Headquarters, Air Force Global Strike Command; Advanced Programs Division, Headquarters Air Combat Command and duty as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad. He commanded the 325th Bomb Squadron, 13th Bomb Squadron, 509th Operations Group and the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. He also served as Commander, Eighth Air Force; Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Commander, Joint Functional Component for Global Strike.
Lt. Gen. Bussiere is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and the U.S. Army War College Advanced Strategic Arts Program. Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Bussiere served as Commander, Alaskan Command, United States Northern Command; Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Lt. Gen. Bussiere is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in the T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer and F-22 Raptor. He led F-15C combat missions during operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior and B-2 combat missions during operations Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.
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Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu
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