title: Mark Nowland
text: # Mark Nowland
  
  Mark C. "Chris" Nowland (born February 6, 1958) is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general.
  
  He last served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters, United States Air Force from October 2016 to October 2018. In that role, he was responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff for formulating policy supporting air, space, cyber, and irregular warfare, counter proliferation, homeland security and weather operations. As the Air Force operations deputy to the Joint Chief of Staff, the general determined operational requirements, capabilities and training necessary to support national security objectives and military strategy.
  
  General Nowland is the son of Col. Benoni “Ben” Nowland IV who earned several medals in Vietnam including a Distinguished Flying Cross. General Nowland followed in his father's career as a 1985 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has commanded at the squadron, wing and numbered Air Force levels. He also served on the Joint Staff, U.S. Southern Command and two Air Force major command staffs. The general has flown combat operations in support of operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. He is also a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and was a National Security Fellow at the Olin Institute at Harvard University. Prior to his final assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, General Nowland was the Commander, 12th Air Force, Air Combat Command and Commander, Air Forces Southern, U.S. Southern Command, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
  
  General Nowland is a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours, primarily in the A-10, F-15A/C/D, T-37B, T-38A/C, A/T-38B and T-6.
  
  ## Awards and decorations
  
  * US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
  * Basic Parachutist Badge
  * Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
  * Headquarters Air Force Badge
  * Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
  * Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
  * Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
  * Bronze Star Medal
  * Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
  * Air Medal
  * Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
  * Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
  * Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  * Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three bronze oak leaf clusters
  * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fifth award)
  * Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
  * Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
  * National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
  * Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
  * Iraq Campaign Medal with one service star
  * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  * Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
  * Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
  * Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
  * Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  * Air Force Training Ribbon
  * Order of Aeronautical Merit, Grand Cross (Chile)
  * SICOFAA Legion of Merit, Grand Cross
  * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
  