Col George H. Imorde III is the Deputy Commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky. In this role, he assists the commander in providing leadership to more than 1,200 Airmen organized in five groups to support Domestic Operations, overseas expeditionary deployments, and contingency operations. The wing is equipped with C-130J Super Hercules aircraft capable of conducting tactical airlift and combat airdrop sorties. Other key missions include the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron comprised of Combat Controllers and Pararescuemen, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, and a Contingency Response Group.
Col Imorde entered the United States Army in 1997 following graduation from the University of Kentucky and commissioning through ROTC. He served as an Adjutant General Corps Officer in the Active Duty Army with assignments at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. After almost 10 years of Active Duty service in the Army, he joined the Kentucky Air National Guard in 2007.
Col Imorde deployed to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, as an Army Officer, to Djibouti, Africa with United States Central Command assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and as an Air Force Officer to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan with a Joint Special Operations Task Force supporting United States Special Operations Command and its sub-unified component organization, Joint Special Operations Command. Prior to assuming his current position, Col Imorde served as the Commander of the 123rd Mission Support Group, Kentucky Air National Guard.
EDUCATION
1993 U.S. Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga.
1997 Bachelor of Arts Degree, Business Management, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
1997 U.S. Army Adjutant General Corps Officer Basic Course, Fort Jackson, S.C.
2001 U.S. Army Advance Airborne School, 82nd Airborne Division Jumpmaster Course, Fort Bragg, N.C.
2003 U.S. Army Adjutant General Corps Captain’s Career Course, Fort Jackson, S.C.
2004 U.S. Army Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2004 U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Small Group Instructor Course and Staff and Faculty Development Course, Fort Jackson, S.C.
2005 Master of Arts Degree, Human Resource Management, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
2007 U.S. Air Force Manpower and Personnel Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Air National Guard Intermediate Development Course (IDC), Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course (RCNSC), National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2014 Air War College, in-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala; Master of Arts Degree, Strategic Studies
2014 Air National Guard Commanders Development Course (CDC), Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2015 U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, Dynamics of International Terrorism and Antiterrorism Officer Course (Level II), Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2017 Security Engineering Planning Assistance Course, Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, Calif.
2019 United States Air Force Emergency Operations Center Director Course, Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 United States Air Force Mission Support Group Commanders Course, Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 United States Air Force Senior Leader Mission Generation Course, Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Course, North American Aerospace Defense Command – United States Northern Command (NORAD-NORTHCOM), Colorado Springs, Co.
2022 United States Air Force Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course (SOLO), United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School (AFJAGS), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Level IV Antiterrorism Executive Seminar, J-33 Deputy Directorate for Current and Integrated Operations, McLean, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1997 – September 1997, Student, U.S. Army Adjutant General Corps Officer Basic Course, Fort Jackson, S.C
2. September 1997 – September 1998, Executive Officer, 19th Replacement Company, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.
3. September 1998 – June 1999, Battalion Logistics Officer (S4), 18th Personnel Services Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.
4. June 1999 – April 2001, Division Officer Manager, G1/AG, HQs, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
5. April 2001- January 2002, Deputy Secretary to General Staff, HQs, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
6. January 2002 – August 2003, Company Commander, 82nd Replacement Company, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
7. September 2003 – May 2004, Student, U.S. Army Adjutant General Corps Captains Career Course, Fort Jackson, S.C.
8. May 2004 – October 2004, Officer Basic Course Instructor, Adjutant General School, Soldier Support Institute, Fort Jackson S.C.
9. October 2004 – October 2005, Captain’s Career Course Instructor, Adjutant General School, Solider Support Institute, Fort Jackson, S.C.
10. October 2005 – May 2006, Deputy Director of Personnel and Strength Management Officer, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Djibouti, Africa
11. May 2006 – April 2007, Chief, Basic Officer Training Division, Adjutant General School, Soldier Support Institute, Fort Jackson, S.C.
12. April 2007 – July 2009, Military Personnel Management Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Kentucky National Guard, Frankfort, Ky.
13. July 2009 -November 2010, Wing Executive Staff Officer, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
14. February 2011 – August 2011, Assistant Chief of Staff, Joint Special Operations Task Force, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
15. October 2011 – July 2013, Commander, 123rd Force Support Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
16. July 2013 – June 2014, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
17. June 2014 – January 2019 – Commander, 123rd Security Forces Squadron; 123d Airlift Wing Antiterrorism Officer, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
18. January 2019 – November 2020, Deputy Commander, 123rd Mission Support Group, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
19. November 2020 – January 2023, Commander, 123rd Mission Support Group, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
20. January 2023 – present, Deputy Commander, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2005 – May 2006, Deputy Director of Personnel (DJ1) and Strength Management Officer, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Djibouti, Africa
2. February 2011 – June 2011, Assistant Chief of Staff, Joint Special Operations Task Force, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one silver oak leaf cluster and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air and Space Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass and M device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Army Service Ribbon
NATO Medal (ISAF)
U.S. Army Master Parachutist Badge
USAF Manpower and Personnel/Force Support Badge (Master)
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold)
Canadian Parachutist Badge