BIOGRAPHY

 

MONTANA AIR NATIONAL GUARD

 

BRIGADIER GENERAL REX W. TANBERG, JR.

 

Brigadier General Rex W. Tanberg, Jr. is the Commander of the Montana Air National Guard.  He is responsible for the establishment of command and control policy of 1,016 Montana Air National Guard members to include the Headquarters State Staff, 120th Fighter Wing, and the 219 REDHORSE Flight, ensuring both their peacetime and wartime readiness.  He serves the Adjutant General of Montana as a principal advisor on all matters pertaining to the Montana Air National Guard.

Brigadier General Tanberg is a lifelong resident of Great Falls, Montana.  His military career began in 1966 when he enlisted in the Montana Air National Guard, and worked on the flight line as an F-102 Avionics Crew Chief. He was commissioned in August 1970, graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training and became a combat ready fighter pilot in 1972. He was assigned as a squadron pilot in the 186th Fighter Squadron, flying F-102 and F-106 aircraft from 1972-1986.  In that time frame, he held positions including Unit Safety Officer, Training Officer, Scheduling Officer, and 186th Fighter Squadron Operations Officer.  Following conversion to the F-16 aircraft in 1986, Brigadier General Tanberg was assigned as the Deputy Commander for Operations in 1989, and became the Vice Commander for the 120th Fighter Wing in 1994.  In January of 1995, Brigadier General Tanberg completed a 90-day tour as Deputy Director of Plans, Programs and Operations, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon.  He was selected to be the Commander of the 120th Fighter Wing on 1 July 1998.  Brigadier General Tanberg was selected the Chief of Staff for the Montana Air National Guard in October 2001.

 

EDUCATION:

 

1988    Bachelor of Science, Liberal Arts, New York Regents College

1971    Undergraduate Pilot Training

1975    Squadron Officers School

1976    Air Force Intelligence School

1979    Air Force Safety Officers School

1981    Air Command and Staff College

1992    Air War College In-Residence

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

1.   December 1966 - July 1970, enlisted, Montana Air National Guard, F-102 Avionics Crew Chief, 120th Fighter Wing, Great Falls IAP, MT 

2.   August 1970 - commissioned

3.    September 1970 - September 1971, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training

4.    March 1972 - December 1986, Pilot, 186FS, F-102 and F-106 aircraft

5.    November 1977 - September 1982, Unit Safety Officer

6.    October 1982 - September 1984, Scheduling Officer

7.    October 1984 - July 1986, Training Officer

8.    January 1987 - present, Pilot, 120th FW, F-16 aircraft

9.    July 1986 - January 1989, 186th Fighter Squadron Operations Officer

10.  February 1989 - June 1992, Deputy Commander for Operations

11.  July 1992 - June 1994, Operations Group Commander

12.  July 1994 - June 1998, Vice Commander 120th Fighter Wing

13.  December 1994 – March 1995, Deputy Director of Plans, Programs and Operations,

       National Guard Bureau, Pentagon

14.  July 1998 – October 2001, Commander of the 120th Fighter Wing

15. October 2001- present, Chief of Staff for the Montana Air National Guard

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

 

Rating: Command pilot

Flight hours: More than 5,000 hours

Aircraft flown: F-102, C-131, F-106, and F-16

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

 

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters

Combat Readiness Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and one oak leaf cluster

Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal

National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

 

Second Lieutenant                    August 4, 1970

First Lieutenant                         August 4, 1973

Captain                                    August 4, 1975

Major                                       September 13, 1980

Lieutenant Colonel                    August 15, 1986

Colonel                                    December 13, 1992

Brigadier General                      July 1, 2002

 

(Current as of July 2002)