JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- Col. Mark Maldonado, Commanding General, Air Component Command, District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG), was promoted to brigadier general during a promotion ceremony July 20, 2019 at Joint Base Andrews, Md. with Airmen, family and friends.
“What you are getting ready to see is the culmination of strong will, and invincible determination,” said Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, commanding general, DCNG. “A pilot, a JAG lawyer and a personnel-ist; a true triple threat and we are blessed to have him.”
Maldonado is the principal advisor to the commanding general of the DCNG, leads over 1,200 Airmen, civilians and contractors of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, while ensuring all DCNG units maintain the required readiness levels for world-wide employment.
“The DC Air National Guard is the premier Air Guard unit in the nation,” said Maldonado. “Being given the responsibility to command this unit is something that I take very seriously. It is an incredible privilege and honor for me to work these amazing men and women.”
Furthermore, as the senior DC Air National Guard official, Maldonado is responsible for liaising with the director, Air National Guard, on behalf of the DCNG, to position the DC Air National Guard to meet the need of the Air Force, Department of Defense and the President.
“Wherever he goes he makes the organization better,” said Brig. Gen. Aaron R. Dean II, the adjutant general, DCNG. “This promotion is well deserved, but more importantly well earned.”
In his civilian capacity, Maldonado has served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice for more than a decade where he prosecuted large-scale international cases working in the Counterterrorism, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Sections.
Maldonado was commissioned in 1991, after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. Throughout his career, Maldonado has served in various operational and staff assignments, primarily as a KC-135 aircraft commander, personnel officer and staff judge advocate.
Throughout his career, Maldonado deployed to locations including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Spain, Oman and Portugal. He also represented the Department of Defense’s Institute for International Legal Studies as a Rule of Law, counterterrorism and narcotics expert instructor in Peru, El Salvador, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I’m proud to be a commander; I’m proud to be a friend; I’m proud to be there for you; I will do the best job I can; I always will,” said Maldonado.
The District of Columbia National Guard has been protecting the capital and defending the nation since 1802. Today's Capital Guardians remains strong with more than 2,700 soldiers and airmen providing air sovereignty over the National Capital Region, transporting senior government leaders, supporting domestic operations and providing mission-ready soldiers and airmen for global engagement. For more information about the DC National Guard visit https://dc.ng.mil.