Gina Grosso

Summary

Gina Marie Grosso[1] is an American defense official and retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who is the Assistant Secretary of Veteran Affairs for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security and Preparedness since June 23, 2021.[2] In the Air Force, Grosso last served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services (A1), Headquarters U.S. Air Force from October 2015 to October 2018.[3]

Gina M. Grosso
Official portrait, 2021
Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Human Resources / Operations, Security and Preparedness
Assumed office
June 23, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
SecretaryDenis McDonough
Preceded byJeffrey R. Mayo (acting)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1986–2018
RankLieutenant General
Commands
Awards

General Grosso entered the Air Force in 1986 as a Reserve Officer Training Corps distinguished graduate from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She held several command and staff positions throughout her career. As a staff officer, she served as an operations analyst, personnel programs analyst, Air Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense action officer, Major Command Director of Manpower and Personnel, Director of the Air Force Colonel Management Office, Director, Manpower, Organization and Resources, and Director of Force Management Policy. Her command tours include a Headquarters Squadron Section, Military Personnel Flight, Mission Support Squadron, command of the Air Force's sole Basic Military Training Group, and as Joint Base and 87th Air Base Wing commander at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. Prior to her current assignment, she was the Director of the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR), Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. [3]

Gen. Grosso is the first female personnel chief in Air Force history. [4] She is married to Col. (USAF, Ret) Brian O'Connor, a former C-17 Globemaster III pilot. [4]

Education and training edit

 
Retired Air Force Col. Brian O'Connor, Dr. Camille Grosso, and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Gerry Grosso help pin Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso's new rank during her promotion ceremony in the Pentagon Nov. 16, 2015.

Military assignments edit

 
Congressman Christopher Smith presented the Purple Heart Medal to Tuskegee Airman Tech. Sgt. (Ret.) George Watson Sr. with then Col. Gina M. Grosso, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst commander in 2010
  1. October 1986 - October 1988, Operations Analyst, followed by Commander, Headquarters Squadron Section, 554th Range Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  2. November 1988 - April 1992, Personnel Programs and Force Programs Analyst, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Va.
  3. May 1992 - May 1993, Executive Officer, Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
  4. May 1993 - July 1993, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  5. August 1993 - May 1995, Commander, Military Personnel Flight, 6th Mission Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
  6. June 1995 - January 1997, Chief, Personnel Policy, followed by Deputy Chief, Support Division, Air Force Colonel Matters Office, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  7. January 1997 - July 1998, Member, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Operations Group, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  8. July 1998 - July 1999, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
  9. July 1999 - July 2001, Commander, 51st Mission Support Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
  10. July 2001 - May 2002, Assistant Director, Enlisted Plans and Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  11. May 2002 - July 2003, Military Assistant, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  12. July 2003 - July 2004, Fellow, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, Boston, Mass.
  13. July 2004 - July 2006, Commander, 737th Training Group, 37th Training Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
  14. July 2006 - July 2007, Director, Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
  15. July 2007 - March 2009, Director, Air Force Colonels Management Office, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  16. March 2009 - June 2011, Commander, Joint Base and 87th Air Base Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
  17. June 2011 - August 2012, Director, Manpower, Organization and Resources, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  18. August 2012 - January 2014, Director, Force Management Policy, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  19. February 2014 - October 2015, Director, Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
  20. October 2015 - September 2018, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C.

Awards and decorations edit

Her major awards and decorations include:

   Air Force Master Force Support Badge (Officer)
  Air Force Basic Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
  Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
  Headquarters Air Force Badge
  Defense Superior Service Medal
    Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
     Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  Air Force Commendation Medal
  Army Commendation Medal
  Joint Service Achievement Medal
 
 
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
    Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
     Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with three oak leaf clusters
 
 
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  Korea Defense Service Medal
  Humanitarian Service Medal
 
 
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
    Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
  Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  Air Force Training Ribbon

Promotion history edit

References edit

  1. ^ Thistle. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Mellon University. 1986. p. 251.
  2. ^ "Gina Grosso - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs".
  3. ^ a b "LIEUTENANT GENERAL GINA M. GROSSO". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b Losey, Stephen (November 16, 2015). "Grosso pins on 3rd star to become first female USAF personnel chief". Air Force Times. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  5. ^ Antenna. Vol. 28. Annandale High School. 1982. p. 51.
Military offices
Preceded by
Philip M. Ruhlman
Director of Manpower, Organization and Resources of the United States Air Force
2011–2012
Succeeded by
David B. Béen
Preceded by Director of Force Management Policy of the United States Air Force
2012–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
2014–2015
Succeeded by
James C. Johnson
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services of the United States Air Force
2015–2018
Succeeded by