Brig. Gen. Ariel G. Batungbacal is Director, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In support of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, she directs policy formulation, guidance and oversight for the $72 billion global Air Force intelligence enterprise impacting 73,000 Airmen. She leads the development of future Air Force ISR concepts and capabilities, directs Air Force ISR Chief Information Office activities. Further, she serves as Career Functional Manager, charged with the development of over 18,000 Air Force intelligence Airmen.
Brig. Gen. Batungbacal earned her commission from the University of Maryland at College Park in 2001. As a career intelligence officer, her assignments have spanned the tactical, operational and strategic levels of war throughout multiple theaters of operation, and she’s commanded at the wing, group and squadron levels. Previously appointed a White House Fellow, she has also served in multiple joint assignments. Brig. Gen. Batungbacal deployed in support of contingency operations, to include Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve.
Prior to this assignment, Brig. Gen. Batungbacal commanded the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This is the U.S. Air Force’s sole service intelligence center comprised of a nearly 3,800-member workforce globally. She oversaw $1.8 billion in center facilities and executed a $747 million operating budget, with NASIC serving as the primary Defense Department producer of scientific and technical foundational intelligence for Air Force and associated joint requirements.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Arts, Chinese, University of Maryland at College Park
2001 Bachelor of Arts, Government/Politics, University of Maryland at College Park
2001 Advanced Certificate, Multi-Track Diplomacy, Center for International Development and Conflict Management, University of Maryland at College Park
2005 Master of Diplomacy, Norwich University, Vt.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Executive Master’s degree in Leadership, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 White House Fellow (Senior Developmental Education), Washington, D.C.
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2001–September 2002, Student, Intelligence Officer Applications Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 2002–October 2003, Chief, Combat Plans, 607th Air Intelligence Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
3. October 2003–July 2004, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Weapons and Tactics, 31st Operations Support Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
4. July 2004–August 2005, Chief of Intelligence, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy (August 2005–January 2006, Chief of Intelligence, 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq)
5. April 2006–June 2008, Chief, Intelligence Operations, Space & Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. (May 2007–November 2007, Analyst, Joint Task Force, Balad AB, Iraq) (April 2008–April 2010, Deputy Chief, ISR Operations Team, 609th Air Operations Center, Qatar)
6. June 2010–March 2012, Joint Staff J2 Branch Chief, Middle East Strategy, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
7. March 2012–August 2012, Deputy Executive Assistant to Director of Intelligence, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
8. August 2012–September 2013, White House Fellow, Washington, D.C.
9. September 2013–December 2013, Director of Operations, 361st Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. December 2013–June 2015, Director of Operations, 25th Intelligence Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (October 2014–January 2014, Detachment Commander, Detachment 1, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
11. June 2015–June 2017, Commander, 450th Intelligence Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
12. July 2017–June 2018, Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2018–June 2020, Military Assistant to Assistant Secretary for Policy of International Security Affairs, Office of Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C
14. July 2020–June 2022, Commander, Air and Cyberspace Intelligence Group, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. June 2022–July 2024, Commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
16. July 2024–present, Director, ISR Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2010–March 2012, Joint Staff J2 Branch Chief, Middle East Strategy, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., as a major
2. March 2012–August 2012, Deputy Executive Assistant to Director of Intelligence, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., as a major
3. June 2018 – June 2020, Military Assistant to Assistant Secretary for Policy of International Security Affairs, Office of Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
NATO Medal
(Current as of September 2025)