Brig. Gen. Harold W. Linnean III is the Commander at Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. He is responsible for personnel support to nearly 1.3 million Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, active-duty Air Force and retired members, ensuring they are ready to deliver strategic Total Force war fighting capability for the Air Force. From initial entry to retirement, the center provides world-class support for "Generations of Airmen" throughout their military careers.
Brig. Gen. Linnean entered the Air Force in 1995 after graduating from The Citadel’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Commissioning program. He entered the United States Air Force Reserve in 2001 after approximately five and half years on active duty. During this time, he served in six command tours at the squadron, group, and wing levels and three Major Command director tours. In addition, he completed various staff and educational assignments. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Linnean was the Director of Manpower Personnel and Services for the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Georgia.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts Degree, Political Science, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
1996 Communications-Computer Systems Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
1998 Masters of Science Degree, Human Resource Management, Troy State University, Troy, Ala.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Communications Battlespace Management Course, Kessler AFB, Miss.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Force Smart Operations for 21st Century Green Belt Certification Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2011 USAF Cyber Operations Transition Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla., by correspondence
2012 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Air Force Smart Operations for 21st Century Black Belt Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 Project Mercury Innovation Acceleration Program, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
2022 Paul-Elder Framework for Critical Thinking: AFR HCM Community, Foundation for Critical Thinking, Sant Barbara, CA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1995-December 1996, Deputy Chief, Base Network Control Center, 42nd Communications Squadron, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. December 1996-June 1997, Chief, Records Management, 42 CS, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
3. June 1997-April 1998, Flight Commander, Support Flight, 42 CS, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
4. April 1998-January 2000, Flight Commander, Mission Systems Flight, 82 CS, Sheppard AFB, Texas
5. (Deployed) October – December 1999, Director, Stabilization Force and Kosovo Force Training, 16th Expeditionary Support Squadron, Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany
6. January 2000-May 2001, Executive Officer, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
7. May 2001-July 2002, Officer-in-Charge, Network Operations Security Center, Directorate of Communications & Information, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
8. July 2002-February 2005, Assistant Chief, Force Readiness Management Branch, Directorate of Communications and Information, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
9. February 2005-April 2006, Special Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
10. April - August 2006, Management Analysis Officer, Directorate of Recruiting, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. August 2006-July 2007, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. July 2007-August 2009, Commander, Eastern Recruiting Squadron, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.
13. August 2009-June 2011, Chief, Advertising and Information Systems, Recruiting Service, Robins AFB, Ga.
14. (Deployed) December 2010 - June 2011, Commander, 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron and Deputy Commander, 64th Air Expeditionary Group, Eskan Village, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
15. June 2011-July 2012, Assistant Executive Officer to the AFRC Commander AFRC, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
16. July 2012-July 2013, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
17. August 2013-March 2015, Commander, 908th Mission Support Group, 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
18. March 2015-January 2017, Director, Analyses, Lessons Learned, and Air Force Continuous Process Improvement, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
19. January 2017-August 2018, Commander, AFRC Recruiting Service, Robins AFB, Ga.
20. August 2018-March 2019, Commander, 960th Cyberspace Operations Group, Joint Base-San Antonio, Texas
21. March - August 2019, Vice Commander, 960th Cyberspace Wing, JB-San Antonio, Texas
22. August 2019–August 2020, Director, AFRC Professional Development Center, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
23. August 2020–August 2023, Director, Manpower Personnel and Services, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
24. August 2023-Present, Commander, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Co.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 Hourglass Devices and 2 "M" Devices
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS: Awarded Dean’s Research Award for Air Command Staff College Thesis
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, Sept. 28, 1995
First Lieutenant, Sept. 28, 1997
Captain, Sept. 28, 1999
Major, Sept. 28, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel, Sept. 28, 2008
Colonel, Aug. 1, 2013
Brigadier General, Dec. 5, 2023
(Current as of December 2023)