Major General BENJAMIN M. CASON Maj. Gen. Benjamin M. Cason serves as the senior Air National Guard (ANG) Assistant to Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), providing insight and advice on the planning and integration for the command's ANG personnel as well as direct access to senior National Guard leadership. AFSOC provides Air Force Special Operations Forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified commands. The command's SOF are composed of highly-trained, rapidly-deployable Airmen, conducting global special operations missions ranging from precision application of firepower to infiltration, exfiltration, resupply and refueling of special operations forces operational elements. Cason graduated from The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1990. Following undergraduate pilot training, Cason was stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, flying the C-141B aircraft. He has spent the majority of his career in special operations assignments. He has deployed extensively in support of combat operations, humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping operations worldwide. He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours. Prior to his current assignment, Cason served as the Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Pennsylvania Air National Guard where he was the principle advisor to The Adjutant General of Pennsylvania Air National Guard matters. EDUCATION 1990 Bachelors of Arts, The Citadel 1998 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2004 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence 2006 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence 2006 2006 Masters in International Relations, University of Oklahoma 2012 Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. 2013 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course 2014 Level IV Antiterrorism Executive Seminar - Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, McClean, Va. 2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC), Arlington, Va. ASSIGNMENTS 1. March 1991 - April 1993, Squadron Adjutant, 668th Bomb Squadron, Griffiss AFB, N.Y 2. May 1993 - April 1994, Assistant Wing Executive Officer, 416th Bomb Wing, Griffiss AFB, N.Y. 3. April 1994 - May 1995, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas 4. May 1995 - March 2000, C-141B Instructor Pilot, A Flight Commander, 8th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash. 5. April 2000 - March 2004, Instructor Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, Special Operations Squadron 6. April 2004 - March 2007, Chief, Special Operations, Office of the Secretary, Department of State, Coordinator of Counter Terrorism, Washington D.C. 7. April 2007 - March 2009, Operations Officer, Special Operations Squadron 8. April 2009 - March 2011, Commander, Special Operations Squadron 9. April 2011 - June 2012, Student, College of Naval Warfare, Newport, R.I. 10. June 2012 - August 2013, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Group 11. August 2013 - November 2015, 2015, Vice Commander, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pa. 12. November 2015 - June 2018, Commander, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pa. 13. April 2019 - November 2021, Assistant Adjutant General, Annville, Pa.; dual-hatted, May 2020 - November 2021, Air National Guard Assistant to Headquarters Air Force A-3, Washington, D.C. 14. November 2021 - March 2023, ANG Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Hurlburt Field, Fla. 15. April 2023 - September 2023, Transferred to Individual Ready Reserve 16. October 2023 - Present, ANG Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Hurlburt Field, Fla. FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: More than 5,000 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster Gallant Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award AF Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal with one service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon Air Force Longevity Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters Air Force Training Ribbon OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2007 U.S. Department of State Superior Honor Award (Current as of June 2024)