Brig. Gen. Jason L. Knobbe, is the Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Kansas National Guard and the Commander, Kansas Air National Guard. He serves as the chief advisor to The Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to Air National Guard programs, policies, operations, management, and command and control of the Kansas Air National Guard. He also provides staff assistance guidance and direction concerning Air National Guard personnel, administration, training, recruiting and retention, logistics, transportation, and budgetary matters. Brig. Gen. Knobbe commands over 2,300 Kansas Air National Guard airmen, serving in two wings, who operate the most diverse set of missions across the Air Force portfolio. Furthermore, he is an active advisor on the Region 3 Strategic Planning System Council.
Brig. Gen. Knobbe is a 1994 graduate of the University of Kansas. He then earned a Master of Science, Education, and a Reserve Officer Training Corps commission from the University of Kansas in 1998. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Chief of Staff-Air, the Wing Commander of the 184th Wing, Vice Commander of the 184th Wing, Commander of the 184th Missions Support Group, and Commander of the 177th Information Aggressor Squadron (a National Security Agency Certified Cyber and Information Operations Red Team). He also served as the Deputy Group Commander for the 184th Regional Support Group. Brig. Gen. Knobbe is a Cyberspace Operations Officer, Aircraft Commander, and a Weapons Systems Operator whose assignments span all three career fields. Throughout his career, Brig. Gen. Knobbe has supported several deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Education, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. 1998 Master of Science, Education, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. 2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2006 KC-135 Aircraft Commander Training, McConnell AFB, Kan.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Cyber X Operations Course, Joint Intelligence Virtual University, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., by correspondence
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 ANG Commanders’ Development Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2015 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Vir.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1998-August 1999, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
2. August 1999-October 1999, Student, Weapons Systems Officer Training, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
3. October 1999-February 2000, Student, Electronic Warfare Officer Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. February 2000-September 2000, Student, Weapons Systems Officer Training, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
5. September 2000-July 2002, Weapons Systems Officer, 127th Bomb Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
6. July 2002-August 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
7. October 2003-February 2004, Student, KC-135R Initial Qual Training, Altus AFB, Okla.
8. February 2004-February 2006, KC-135R Co-Pilot, 184th Operations Support Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
9. February 2006-July 2007, KC-135R Aircraft Commander & Chief of Scheduling, 184th Operations Support Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
10. July 2007-September 2008, Influence Operations Team Chief, 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, McConnell
AFB, Kan.
11. September 2008-August 2011, Network Warfare Operations Flight Commander, 177th Information Aggressor
Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
12. September 2011-October 2014, Commander, 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
13. October 2014-January 2016, Deputy Commander, 184th Regional Support Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
14. January 2016-June 2018, Commander, 184th Mission Support Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
15. June 2018-April 2020, Vice Wing Commander, 184th Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
16. May 2020-March 2023, Wing Commander, 184th Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
17. April 2023-November 2023, Chief of Staff-Air, JFHQ-KS, Forbes Field, Kan.
18. November 2023-present, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Commander, Kansas Air National Guard, JFHQ-KS, Forbes Field, Kan.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,200
Aircraft flown: T-34, T-39, T-1, T-37, B-1B, and KC-135 R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 Distinguished Graduate Navigator Training
2003 Distinguished Graduate Pilot Training
2008 Distinguished Graduate Basic Communications Officer Training
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 29, 1998
First Lieutenant April 29, 2000
Captain April 29, 2002
Major June 2, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel June 10, 2010
Colonel January 5, 2016
Brigadier General April 30, 2023
(Current as of November 2023)