Maj. Gen. Randal K. Efferson is the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. In this position, the general assists with the development of contingency plans and the execution of air operations for the 20-nation U.S. Central Command area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia.
Maj. Gen. Efferson received his commission in 1990 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn. He is a command pilot with nine combat deployments having served on active duty and with the Air National Guard (Texas, Florida, and Alabama). His career highlights include assignments as F-35 initial cadre for the Air National Guard, Executive Officer to the Director of the Air National Guard, J3 Director of Operations for USCENTCOM Forward Element, Jordan, Commander of the 187th Fighter Wing, and Assistant Adjutant General and Air Component Commander for the Alabama Air National Guard.
EDUCATION
1989 U.S. Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga.
1990 Bachelor of Science, Engineering, Science and Mechanics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1996 USAF Fighter Electronic Combat Course, Fla.
1997 U.S. Navy Strike Leader Attack Training School, Nev.
1998 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nev.
2001 Master of Science, Human Resources Management, Troy State University, Shaw AFB Campus, S.C.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Norfolk, Va.
2018 National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC), Syracuse University, N.Y.
2018 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC); Joint Base Andrews, Md. and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
2019 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Regional Seminar-Eurasia, Old Town Alexandria, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1991–February 1992, Student Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 1993–March 1993, Lead-In Fighter Training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. June 1993–December 1993, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. January 1994–January 1995, Flight Lead and Scheduler, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. January 1995–September 1997, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 77th FS, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. September 1997–June 1998, Assistant Chief of Wing Standardization and Evaluation, 8th FW, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
7. July 1998–December 1998, F-16 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. January 1999–February 2000, Weapons Officer, 68th FS, Moody AFB, Ga.
9. February 2000–September 2002, Commander, 9th AF F-16 Demonstration Team, Shaw AFB, S.C.
10. June 2004–June 2006, Wing Weapons Officer, 147th Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard, Ellington Field, Texas
11. June 2006–November 2010, Assistant Operations Officer, 100th FS, Alabama ANG, Montgomery Regional Air Guard Base, Ala.
12. November 2010–March 2013, Deputy Operations Group Commander, 33rd Operations Group (Florida ANG), Eglin AFB, Fla.
13. April 2013–November 2013, Executive Officer to the Director of the Air National Guard, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. December 2013–December 2014, J3 Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command Forward, Jordan
15. January 2015–December 2017, Commander, 187th FW, Dannelly Field ANGB, Montgomery, Ala.
16. December 2017–June 2019, Assistant Adjutant General and Air Component Commander of the Alabama ANG, Joint Forces Headquarters-Air, Montgomery, Ala.
17. June 2019–October 2019, Assistant Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central, Shaw AFB, S.C.
18. June 2019–present, ANG Assistant to the Commander, AFCENT, Shaw AFB, S.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2013–December 2014, J3 Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command Forward, Jordan, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,700 (600 combat)
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38B, F-16 Block 30/40/50
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal with gold star
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' device and hourglass device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1994 Air-to-Air Top Heater Award, 80th Fighter Squadron
1994 Wingman of the Quarter, 80th FS
1995 Fighter Pilot of the Year, 77th FS
1995 Operational Readiness Inspection Superior Performer Award, 20th Fighter Wing
1996 Top Gun LAHD and LALD, 77th FS
1996 Overall Top Gun, 77th FS
1997 IP of the quarter, 77th FS
1998 IP of the quarter, 80th FS
1998 USAF Weapons Instructor Course Outstanding Graduate, Class 98-BIF
1998 Moody Air Force Base Robbie Risner Award
1999 AEG Company Grade Officer of the Quarter
1999 Top Gun LAS, 68th FS
1999 Two-time Fighter pilot of the quarter, 68th FS
1999 Two-time IP of the quarter, 68th FS
1999 IP of the year, 68th FS
2000 Top Gun LAS, 68th FS
2000 Combat Archer Deployment “Outstanding Performer”
2001 IP of the quarter, 78th FS
2012 Top 1% of all Air Warfare Center Distance learning students (7,000 students)
2018 Association of Defense Communities Military Leadership Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 11, 1990
First Lieutenant Sept. 11, 1992
Captain Sept. 11, 1994
Major Oct. 1, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 2008
Colonel May 23, 2013
Brigadier General Dec. 15, 2017
Major General May 1, 2020
(Current as of March 2022)