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Chojnacki Promoted To Brigadier General

By Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA

Col. Eugene Chojnacki was promoted to Brigadier General at a ceremony held at the 177th Fighter Wing Sept. 14. Brig. Gen. Chojnacki is the Vice Commander of the New Jersey Air National Guard, based at the Fort Dix.

Brig. Gen. Clark W. Martin speaks

Brig. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey and Mrs. Barbara Chojnacki, the wife of Col. Chojnacki, conducted the official pinning ceremony.

Brig. Gen. Chojnacki was born in Camden on Aug. 29, 1945 and graduated from Edgewood Regional High School, Tansboro in 1963. He earned a Bachelor in Industrial Education from Trenton State College in 1967 and Master in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University in 1976. Military education includes Air Command and Staff College, and National Security Management.

After graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in 1969, Brig. Gen. Chojnacki completed C-141A training and was assigned to Dover Air Force Base, Del. In 1971, the general attended Helicopter Transition Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and was assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Cam Rahn Bay, Republic of Vietnam, as an UH-IN Pilot. During his combat tour, he flew 120 missions over Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. He served as a Helicopter Instructor Pilot at Hill Air Force Base, Utah until 1973. In 1977, he joined the New Jersey Air National Guard where he served in a variety of positions including executive support officer, deputy commander for resources and support group commander.

Brig. Gen. Chojnacki has flown more than 2,000 flight hours on a variety of aircraft including: the T-41, T-37, T-38, C-141A, UH-IN, and the TH-IF. His awards and decorations include: the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device.