Lt. Gen. Thomas Bussiere to speak at Norwich University Veterans Day observance

Special to The Guidon|November 3, 2022

NORTHFIELD, Vt. — Norwich University will observe Veterans Day by conducting a Corps of Cadets review in honor of all veterans, past and present.

The reviewing officer and guest speaker will be Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas Bussiere who is up for appointment to the grade of General with assignment as commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Bussiere is currently serving as deputy commander, US Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska.

Veterans, their guests, and community members are cordially invited to attend the Veterans Day observance at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 11 on Norwich University’s Upper Parade Ground.

The ceremony will include prolonged cannon fire for the Roll of Wars, a wreath laying, firing of three rifle volleys and the playing of echo taps. The uniform for this special event is Class A; please plan on cold weather and dress accordingly.

Lt. Gen. Bussiere graduated from Norwich’s Air Force ROTC in 1985. If confirmed by the US Senate, he will manage more than 30,000 airmen and strategic assets including nuclear and non-nuclear air craft. The Command also oversees a variety of intercontinental ballistic missiles, helicopters and other services.

During his military service, Lt. Gen. General Bussiere has held a variety of flying, staff and command assignments including the Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense and Current Operations, Joint Staff; Inspector General, Headquarters, Air Force Global Strike Command; Advanced Programs Division, Headquarters Air Combat Command and duty as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad. He commanded the 325th Bomb Squadron, 13th Bomb Squadron, 509th Operations Group and the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. He also served as Commander, Eighth Air Force; Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Commander, Joint Functional Component for Global Strike.

Lt. Gen. Bussiere is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and the U.S. Army War College Advanced Strategic Arts Program. Prior to his current position, he served as Commander, Alaskan Command, United States Northern Command; Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.Lt. Gen. Bussiere is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in the T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer and F-22 Raptor. He led F-15C combat missions during operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior and B-2 combat missions during operations Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.