Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice has been nominated to become the next director of the Air National Guard, the Defense Department announced.
President Barack Obama nominated Rice to replace Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, who announced his retirement last year. If confirmed, Rice would also pin on his third star.
Since 2012, Rice has served as the adjutant adjunct general for the Massachusetts National Guard at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
"Maj. Gen. Rice has done a tremendous job leading our National Guard and ensuring our troops maintain the utmost level of preparedness to protect the Commonwealth and serve our nation," said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker at a May 2015 ceremony to re-appointing Rice as the leader of the state’s National Guard.
Rice joined the Air Force in 1980, receiving his wings in 1982, and has flown about 4,300 hours in the F-111 Aardvark and A-10 Thunderbolt II. He has flown as part of both active and reserve commands, and has deployed overseas several times, including to Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Pakistan, Iraq, and several more nations.
According to service personnel records, Rice has earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, among others.
On the civilian side, Rice is a pilot for United Airlines, flying the Boeing 777.
