Air Force Maj. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. has been nominated by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for a promotion to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as director of the Defense Information Systems Agency.
Currently, Hawkins is serving as deputy director, J8, for C4 systems, Joint Staff. In this position he develops C4 capabilities, conducts analysis and assessments, provides joint and combined force C4 guidance and evaluates C4 requirements, plans, programs and strategies for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of Force Structure, Resource and Assessment.
He received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Angelo State University in 1977. He has held multiple communications positions, some of which include an assignment on the Joint Staff supporting the manager for C4 systems as well as serving as Director of C4 systems for the Joint Task Force in Southwest Asia.
He has commanded Cadet Squadron 24 at the U.S. Air Force Academy; Air Combat Command’s Computer Systems Squadron and Communications Group; and Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
He has also served as the director of communications and information for Headquarters Pacific Air Forces; director of communications operations in Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics at Air Force headquarters; director of infrastructure delivery in the Office of Warfighting Integration; and chief information officer in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Additionally, Hawkins has also been the Iraq coalition’s deputy chief of staff for communications and information systems. Prior to his current assignment, Hawkins was the vice director of DISA.
