Speakers

Maj. Gen. Steven J. Butow serves as Chief of Staff/Commander, California Air National Guard. In this role, he is the primary advisor to The Adjutant General on all programs, strategic planning, and operations affecting the California Air National Guard. He is responsible for the mission readiness and operational effectiveness across a broad spectrum of programs and activities involving five wings and over 4900 military and civilian personnel serving at ten locations within California. In this role, General Butow oversees development of operationally trained, equipped, and mission ready forces in support of national defense requirements and emergency response, relief, and recovery operations throughout California. General Butow also serves in a dual-hat role as the Military Deputy, Defense Innovation Unit. The Defense Innovation Unit is responsible for our national security by accelerating the adoption of leading commercial technology throughout the military and growing the national security innovation base. Maj. Gen. Butow received his commission in 1989 from the Academy of Military Sciences, Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was recognized as a distinguished graduate. Upon earning his qualification as a combat rescue pilot, he made more than ten Air Expeditionary Force deployments in support of Operations DESERT STORM, SOUTHERN WATCH, PROVIDE COMFORT II, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. General Butow was selected by Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command as the HC-130 Working Group Chairman at the 2004 Combat Air Forces Weapons and Tactics Conference. He served as Deputy Director of the United States Central Command Joint Search and Rescue Center in 2005, and as the United States Air Forces Central Command Chief of Personnel Recovery in 2007. As Commander of the 129th Rescue Wing, General Butow maintained the mission readiness of 970 Airmen, four MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and five HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters in support of both global and homeland taskings. As the Vice Chief of the Joint Staff for the California Military Department, which leads the second largest state National Guard force in the nation, he shared responsibility for integrating and synchronizing joint forces to protect the state's population of 40 million and the fifth largest economy in the world. Prior to his current position, General Butow served as Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard for Headquarters Air Force, Plans, Programs and Requirements.