Brigadier General Colby B. Wyatt is the Director of the Joint Staff - Oklahoma National Guard. He is responsible for directing the activities of the Army and Air Joint Staff and is the principal advisor to The Adjutant General on domestic operations.
General Wyatt oversees the readiness of Oklahoma National Guard personnel, provides oversight of all military support, protection, and domestic operations, and promotes shared awareness with The Adjutant General, National Guard Bureau, United States Northern Command, and joint/interagency partners. When directed, General Wyatt serves as the state's Joint Task Force Commander and/or Dual Status Commander. General Wyatt commissioned in 1996 through the Oklahoma Military Department Officer Candidate School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels including Commander, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard and Commander 1st Battalion 179th Infantry Regiment, Oklahoma Army National Guard. Prior to receiving his commission, General Wyatt served five years as an enlisted Soldier in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.
Commissioning Source
Officer Candidate School
Educational Degrees
1997 - Northwestern State University, Bachelor of Science, Law Enforcement, Alva, Oklahoma
2018 - United States Air War College, Master of Strategic Studies, Montgomery, Alabama
Military Schools Attended
1997 - Infantry Officer Basic Course, In Residence, Fort Benning, Georgia
2001 - Infantry Captain’s Career Course, In Residence, Fort Benning, Georgia
2001 - Combined Arms and Services Staff School, In Residence, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2014 - United States Army Command and General Staff College, By Correspondence, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2018 - United States Air War College, In Residence, Montgomery, Alabama
Promotions
Second Lieutenant - August 11, 1996
First Lieutenant - December 3, 1998
Captain - May 6, 2003
Major - March 2, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel - July 12, 2015
Colonel - September 26, 2019
Brigadier General - November 30, 2022
Assignments
1. August 2022 - Present, Director, Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2. August 2019 - July 2020, Commander, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Norman, Oklahoma
3. May 2018 - August 2019, Executive Officer, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Norman, Oklahoma
4. June 2017 - May 2018, Student, United States Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama
5. January 2017 - June 2017, Commander, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma and OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE, Yavoriv, Ukraine
6. July 2015 - January 2017, Commander, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma
7. July 2013 - July 2015, S3, 1st Squadron 180th Cavalry, Durant, Oklahoma
8. July 2012 - July 2013, Civil Affairs Officer, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Norman, Oklahoma
9. March 2012 - July 2012, Assistant S3, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Norman, Oklahoma
10. June 2011 - March 2012, Assistant S3 / Commander’s Unit Assessment Tool Coordinator, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Norman, Oklahoma and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, FOB Gamberi, Afghanistan
11. July 2009 - June 2011, S3, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma
12. December 2008 - July 2009, Plans Officer, 45th Infantry Brigade, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
13. October 2008 - December 2008, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma
14. January 2008 – October 2008, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Camp Bucca, Iraq
15. July 2007 - January 2008, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma
16. May 2006 - July 2007, Officer Strength Manager, Oklahoma Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
17. March 2005 - May 2006, S4, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma
18. July 2003 - March 2005, Commander, Company B 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Alva, Oklahoma
19. January 2003 - July 2003, Commander, Company B 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Alva, Oklahoma and OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH / OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, (FWD), Kuwait/Iraq
20. August 2002 - January 2003, Commander, Company B 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Alva, Oklahoma
21. September 2000 - August 2002, Support Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma
22. April 2000 - September 2000, Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Stillwater, Oklahoma
23. July 1997 - April 2000, Rifle Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Cherokee, Oklahoma
24. March 1997 – July 1997, Student, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
25. October 1996 – March 1997, Rifle Platoon Leader / Detachment Commander, Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Cherokee, Oklahoma
26. August 1996 - October 1996, Platoon Leader, Company D, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Summary of Operational Assignments
1. January 2017 - June 2017, Commander, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE, Yavoriv, Ukraine
2. June 2011 - March 2012, Assistant S3 / Commander’s Unit Assessment Tool Coordinator, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, FOB Gamberi, Afghanistan
3. January 2008 - October 2008, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Camp Bucca, Iraq
4. January 2003 - July 2003, Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion 179th Infantry, OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH / OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, (FWD), Kuwait/Iraq
US Decorations and Badges
Bronze Star Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Superior Unit Award
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf
Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Campaign Stars)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Campaign Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with Numeral 2)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass Device, “M” Device and Numeral 2)
NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal
Oklahoma Alfred P. Murrah Building Service Medal
Oklahoma State Active Duty Medal
Oklahoma Long Service Medal (30 Years)
Oklahoma Good Conduct Ribbon (with Numeral 5)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Ranger Tab
Pathfinder Badge
Air Assault Badge
Civilian Occupation
1. Administrative Officer, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
2. Self-employed pilot, Cherokee Air Services LLC, Cherokee, Oklahoma
Professional Memberships and Achievements
Member, American Legion, Cherokee, Oklahoma
Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Blackwing Post, Alva, Oklahoma
Board Member, Cherokee Airport Board, Cherokee, Oklahoma
Member, National Guard Association of the United States
Life Member of 45th Infantry Division and 179th Infantry Regiment Associations
Life Member, Military Order of the Purple Heart
Member Order of Saint Maurice