BRIGADIER GENERAL BLAINE D. HOLT
Brig. Gen. Holt is the Deputy United States Military Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He supports the Military Representative and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in executing the U.S. political-military mission at the North Atlantic Council.
General Holt graduated from the University of Georgia in 1988. There he was commissioned and designated a distinguished graduate of the University of Georgia's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. The general's command experience includes the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic and the 16th Airlift and 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadrons. General Holt’s combat leadership in Kyrgyzstan during multiple crises, including a coup d’état and ethnic violence was deemed “essential” by the Commander, U.S. Central Command. Key assignments include a previous posting as the Director of Logistics, United States European Command, a Military Fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City, New York and Director of the Air Force Secretary and Chief of Staff's Executive Action Group.
The general is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours in a variety of aircraft. His dissertation, written and defended in Dutch, was awarded a "with distinction" honor at the Royal Superior College of Defense in Brussels. He has published a variety of papers across a range of national security issues and is a life member of the Wings Club and the Council on Foreign Relations.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Georgia, Athens
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1996 Master of Arts, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2001 "D'état-Major" of the Royal Superior College of Defense, Brussels, Belgium
2002 Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.
2008 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Military Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York
2012 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Darden School, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1989 – March 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese AFB, Texas
2. March 1990 – December 1992, T-38A Instructor Pilot, Reese AFB, Texas
3. December 1992 – April 1995, C-141B Aircraft Commander, McGuire AFB, N.J.
4. April 1995 – August 1999, C-17A Initial Cadre, Evaluator Aircraft Commander, Charleston AFB, S.C.
5. August 1999 – April 2000, Student, Defense Language Institute, Washington, D.C.
6. April 2000 – June 2001, Student, Royal Superior College of Defense, Brussels, Belgium
7. June 2001 – May 2003, Chief, Requirements Section, ECJ37, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany
8. October 2003 – June 2004, Operations Officer, 17th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
9. June 2004 – June 2006, Commander, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
10. June 2006 – July 2006, Deputy Commander, 437th Operations Group, Charleston AFB, S.C.
11. July 2006 – July 2007, Deputy Commander, 19th Air Refueling Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
12. July 2007 – June 2008, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. June 2008 – June 2009, Vice Commander, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
14. June 2009 – June 2010, Commander, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic
15. June 2010 – July 2011, Military Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York
16. July 2011 – July 2012, Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2012 – June 2014, Director, Logistics, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
18. June 2014 – present, Deputy Military Representative, United States Military Delegation to NATO Military Committee
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2001 – May 2003, Chief, Requirements Section, ECJ37, United States European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, as a major and lieutenant colonel
2. July 2012 – June 2014, Director, Logistics, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, as a brigadier general
3. June 2014 – present, Deputy Military Representative, United States Military Delegation to NATO Military Committee, as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,900
Combat hours: more than 300
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A, C-141B, C-17A, and KC-135R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Distinguished Superior Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with bronze oak leak cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Gold Border
Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and seven oak leaf clusters
PUBLICATIONS
“The Gold Standard: U.S.-Israel Military Relations,” American Foreign Policy Interests, The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, March-April 2014
“Strategic Choices: Why Europe Still Matters,” American Foreign Policy Interests, The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, May-June 2013
Book Brief: “Ancient Chinese Thought; Modern Chinese Power” by Dr. Xuetong Yan, American Foreign Policy Interests, The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, April 2012
Book Brief: “State vs. Defense; The Battle for America’s Empire” by S. Glain, American Foreign Policy Interests, The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, August 2011
“America in 3D: Has U.S. Foreign Policy Found Its Rebirth in the Phillipines?” American Foreign Policy Interests, The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, June 2011
“Roads, Power, and Schools: A Brighter Future for Bishkek and the Region,” American Foreign Policy Interests, The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, December 2010
“Harmonious Society - Rise of the New China” Strategic Studies Quarterly, Air University Press, December 2009
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 11, 1988
First Lieutenant Oct. 22, 1990
Captain Oct. 22, 1992
Major July 1, 1999
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2002
Colonel Aug. 1, 2007
Brigadier General May 20, 2013
(Current as of October 2015)