Brig Gen Robert ‘Bob’ Gellner is the Deputy Commander, NATO Mission Iraq (NMI). NMI was established in 2018 as a non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission, at the request and invitation of the Government of Iraq. NMI works with the Iraqi Ministries of Defence and Interior, and the Iraqi National Security Advisor, in the Greater Baghdad Area. NMI assists Iraq in building more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and forces, so that they themselves are better able to stabilize their country, fight terrorism, and prevent the return of Daesh.
Brig Gen Gellner received his commission in 1998 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps as a graduate of West Virginia University. He is a joint qualified, total force officer and a former National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He has served in multiple staff positions in the Air Force Weapon System Sustainment Office, the National Guard Bureau Joint Actions Control Office, on the special staff of the Chief, National Guard Bureau, and in the National Guard Strategy, Plans, Policy, and International Affairs Directorate. His previous command assignments include the 712th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Del., the 144th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif., the 140th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Buckley AFB, Colo., and the 154th Maintenance Group at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Prior to this assignment, Brig Gen Gellner served as the Commander, 183d Wing, Springfield, Ill.
Brig Gen Gellner is a vastly experienced Air Force leader with assignments supporting the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of the military. He has deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, SALTY STURGEON, and ENDURING FREEDOM. He has also supported Operations NOBLE EAGLE, LIBERTY SHIELD, CAPITAL RESPONSE, ALLIES REFUGE, and ALLIES WELCOME.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelors of Arts, West Virginia University, Morgantown W. Va.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2003 Air Force Space Command ‘Vigilant Look’
2006 Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Orientation, Tokyo, Japan
2007 Master of Arts, Economics, University of Oklahoma, Norman
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2016 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, Va.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2018 National Security Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
2021 Commanders’ Professional Development Courses, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2023 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson SFB, Colo.
2023 Wing Command Team Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2023 Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Peterson SFB, Colo.
2024 Air Component Senior Leader Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1998 – March 1999, Assistant Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. April 1999 – March 2000, Avionics Flight Commander, 325th Maintenance Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. April 2000 – February 2001, Quality Assurance Flight Commander, 325th Logistics Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. February 2001 – February 2002, Military Chief, Services Section, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Okla.
5. February 2002 – July 2002, Military Chief, E-3 Production Section, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Okla.
6. August 2002 – July 2003, Maintenance Flight Commander, 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
7. August. 2003 – January 2004, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer-in-Charge, 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
8. February 2004 – June 2004, RED Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer-in-Charge, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
9. June 2004 – June 2005, Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer-in-Charge, 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
10. June 2005 – June 2006, Assistant Maintenance Operations Officer, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
11. June 2006 – September 2007, Maintenance Operations Officer, 18th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
12. September 2007 – August 2009, Individual Ready Reserve
13. August 2009 – August 2010, Maintenance Operations Officer, 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
14. August 2010 – August 2011, Commander, 712th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
15. August 2011 – June 2013, Commander, 144th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif.
16. July 2013 – December 2013, Commander, 140th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
17. December 2013 – December 2014, Maintenance Officer, 144th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif.
18. December 2014 – December 2015, Strategic Planner, Chief’s Action Group, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau,the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (Joint)
19. December 2015 – Jul 2016, Strategic Planner and Executive Officer, Chief’s Action Group, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau,the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (Joint)
20. July 2016 – July 2017, Strategic Planner, Chief’s Action Group, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (Joint)
21. July 2017 – June 2018, National Security Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
22. July 2018 – October 2019, Chief, Futures Branch, Strategy, Plans, Policy, and International Affairs (J5), National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (Joint)
23. October 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 154th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii
24. June 2021 – July 2021, Chief, Strategic Assessments, Futures, and Initiates (J5), National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
25. July 2021 – June 2024, Commander, 183d Wing, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield, Ill.
26. July 2024 – September 2024, Deputy Commander, 603rd Air Operations Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
27. October 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, NATO Mission Iraq, Baghdad
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
Dec 2014 – July 2017, Strategic Planner, Chief’s Action Group, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a major and lieutenant colonel
July 2018 – October 2019, Chief, Futures Branch, Strategy, Plans, Policy, and International Affairs (J5), National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 16, 1998
First Lieutenant June 16, 2000
Captain June 16, 2002
Major June 16, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel September 15, 2015
Colonel July 31, 2019
Brigadier General September 15, 2024
(Current as of October 2024)