Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks is the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He commands the 4,300-member Cadet Wing and more than 200 Air Force and civilian personnel. He guides military, leadership, character development, Basic Cadet Training and Expeditionary Skills Training for the Air Force Cadet Wing in addition to providing facilities and logistical support.

Brig. Gen. Marks earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 and his pilot wings from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Brig. Gen. Marks has served as a T-1A instructor pilot (at both the undergraduate and graduate training levels) and flight examiner, an E-3B/C instructor pilot and flight examiner, an Air Force Intern, a staff officer on multiple joint staffs, and has commanded at the squadron and wing levels.

Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Marks is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the T-3, T-37, T-1A, E-3B/C/G, RC-135S/U/V, TC-135W, OC-135B, and WC-135C aircraft.

Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C. (2017)

Master’s of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. (2015)

Distinguished Graduate, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. (2015)

Senior Developmental Education – Air War College, correspondence (2012)

Intermediate Developmental Education – Air Command and Staff College, correspondence (2007)

Intermediate Developmental Education – Air Force Intern Program, Arlington, Virginia (2007)

Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama (2000)

Master’s of Science, Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (2002)

Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1996)

Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 2023-Present)

Director, Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia (June 2022- June 2023)

Director, SECAF/CSAF Executive Action Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia (June 2021-June 2022)

Commander, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska (June 2019-June 2021)

Vice Commander, 552d Air Control Wing, Tinker, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (July 2017-June 2019)

Operations Planner, Force Management Division, J-32 ISR/CCA, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia (June 2016-July 2017)

Executive Officer, Joint Functional Component Command, U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. (June 2015-June 2016)

Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C. (May 2014-June 2015)

Commander, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas (May 2012-May 2014)

Director of Operations, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas (June 2010-May 2012)

Observer/Trainer, J7 Joint Warfighting Center, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia (Nov. 2007-June 2010)

Assistant Director of Operations, E-3 Evaluator Pilot, 964 Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Sep. 2006-Nov. 2007)

Wing Executive Officer, E-3 Instructor Pilot, 552d Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (March 2005-Sep. 2006)

Flight Commander, E-3 Instructor Pilot, 963 Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (July 2004-March 2005)

Assistant Flight Commander, E-3 Aircraft Commander, 963 Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (July 2002-July 2004)

Air Force Intern, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia (June 2001-June 2002)

T-1A Instructor Pilot, Squadron Programmer, Check Pilot, 32d Flying Training Squadron, Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Oklahoma (July 1998-May 2001)

Student, PIT, Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas (Feb. 1998-July 1998)

Student, SUPT, Columbus Air Force Base, Columbus, Mississippi (Feb. 1997-Feb. 1998)

Assistant Executive Officer / Special Projects Officer, 34th Training Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (July 1996-Feb. 1997)

Summary of Joint Assignments

Operations Planner, Force Management Division, J-32 ISR/CCA, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, as a colonel (June 2016-July 2017)

Executive Officer, Joint Functional Component Command, U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel (June 2015-June 2016)

Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel (May 2014-June 2015)

Observer/Trainer, J7 Joint Warfighting Center, United States Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia, as a major (Nov. 2007-June 2010)

Flight Information

Rating: Command Pilot, Basic Parachutist
Flight Hours: More than 3,400
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-1A, E-3B/C/G, RC-135S/U/V, TC-135W, OC-135B and WC-135C

Dean’s Award, National War College, Washington, D.C. (2015)

Distinguished Graduate, National War College, Washington, D.C. (2015)

Distinguished Graduate, Joint Targeting School, Virginia Beach, Virginia (2008)

Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Class 00-G, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, 19AF Instructor Pilot of the Year (2000)

Carl Crane Award for Top Student Instructor Pilot of the Year for all Trainers (1998)

Daughters of the American Revolution Student Instructor Pilot of the Year (1998)

Distinguished Graduate, Pilot Instructor Training, Class 98-08, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas

Air Force Commendation Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters

Effective Dates of Promotion

Second Lieutenant May 29, 1996

First Lieutenant May 29, 1998

Captain May 29, 2000

Major May 1, 2006

Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2010

Colonel March 1, 2017

Brigadier General June 2, 2023

(Current as of July 2023)