Washington Air Guards Senior Officer Gets His Second Star
Story by SSG Jeff Clayton with exerts from official biography
Photos by Maj Herb Porter & courtesy U.S. Air Force
Brigadier General Frank Scoggins, the Assistant Adjutant General (Air) of the Washington National Guard was promoted to Major General on the 6th of March at Camp Murray, Washington by Major General Gregory P. Barlow, the Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard.
As Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Major General Scoggins is the Commander of all Air National Guard men and women across the state, over 2600 in all, stationed in 14 units from Seattle to Spokane, and as far north as Bellingham. Washington Air Guard personnel man the Western Air Defense Sector radar facility at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma. He is also responsible for the newly reorganized Joint Information Services which provides state-of-the-art automation solutions to both the Army and Air National Guard in Washington.
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With the downsizing of the active military, both the Air and Army National Guard are being called upon more frequently that ever before to augment the nations forces throughout the world. The 141st Air Refueling Wing, perhaps the highest profile Air Guard unit in the state, recently participated in Operation Joint Guard, flying their KC-135 Stratotankers to provide critical mid-air refueling in support of the U.S. mission to Bosnia. Currently the 141st is conducting refueling operations for the air bridge in support of the U.S. buildup in the Gulf.
Major General Scoggins is highly qualified for such an important job. He was commissioned in the United States Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Kansas State University and was a distinguished graduate of that course. He entered undergraduate pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, and received his pilot's wings in February of 1971, again with recognition as a distinguished graduate. His next assignment was to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to attend pilot training in the F-4 Phantom II.
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In October of 1971, Major General Scoggins reported to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he joined the U.S. Air Forces 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron as an F-4 pilot. During this tour of duty, he flew 192 combat missions. Ninety-one of these sorties were flown over North Vietnam during the Operation Linebacker Campaign. Following his combat tour, he was assigned to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, in November of 1972. In 1974, he was selected to attend the United States Fighter Weapons School where he completed the course as the Outstanding Academic Graduate and as a Distinguished Graduate.
In May 1975, Major General Scoggins was selected to serve as an Instructor Pilot in the
Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. During this three-year tour in the 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron, he tested numerous experimental weapons and tactics in addition to his duties as an Instructor Pilot.
Major General Scoggins separated from the active Air Force and joined the Kansas Air National Guard in May of 1978. During his ten and one-half years with the Kansas Air National Guard, he served with the 184th Tactical Fighter Group as Weapons and Tactics Officer, Flight Commander, Squadron Commander, Deputy Commander for Maintenance, and Deputy Commander for Operations.
While Commander of the groups 127th Tactical Fighter Squadron MG Scoggins was responsible for guiding the development of the Air National Guard F-4 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course. As Deputy Commander for the group he converted the unit to the new F-16 Fighting Falcon.
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In October of 1988, Major General Scoggins was selected by the National Guard Bureau and the Air Force Reserve to be the Commander, Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center in Tucson, Arizona. His organization had the responsibility for conducting operational test and evaluation of reserve component hardware and software for all fighter aircraft being utilized by the Air Reserve Components. During this tour of duty, the organization assumed all responsibility for the Air Reserve Component F-16 A/B Operational Test and Evaluation Mission. As such, he had extensive involvement with the European Participating Air Force, Air Force Logistics Command, and Tactical Air Command. The test center also served as the weapons and tactics focal point for all Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve fighter forces.
In July of 1990, Major General Scoggins assumed command of Detachment One, Headquarters Washington Air National Guard. During Operation Desert Storm, he was tasked by the Director of the Air National Guard to report to the Pentagon where he served a 45-day staff tour during the armed conflict.
He was then selected to return to the Kansas Air National Guard to command the 184th Fighter Group. During this period, the 184th was responsible for training pilots in the unit's 70 F-16C aircraft. He returned to the Washington Air National Guard in 1994 to assume the duties of Assistant Adjutant General - Air and was promoted to Brigadier General on September 23rd, 1994. Major General Scoggins became the Commander of the Headquarters Washington Air National Guard on November 5th 1995.
Major General Scoggins military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with twelve devices, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four devices, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Major General Scoggins is a graduate of Kansas State University, class of 1969, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Engineering. He is a graduate of the Air War College and numerous other military and civilian leadership courses. He is an accomplished pilot with over 4500 flying hours having flown the T-37, T-38, F-4, F-105, F-5, F-20, and F-16 aircraft.
Major General Scoggins is a native of Dodge City, Kansas. He is married and lives in Gig Harbor, Washington.
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