Major General John F. Nichols was the Adjutant General, Texas from February 16, 2011 until February 1, 2019, and now works at the Texas Department of Public Safety as the Homeland Security Senior Analyst. General Nichols received his commission in 1979 through the United States Air Force Academy. His flying assignments included the being an Instructor Pilot in the T-38, flying F-16s . He was then assigned to Headquarters, Air Staff, Directorate of Operations, for Project Checkmate at Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. General Nichols joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 1992. He has been Chief of Wing Weapons and a Fighter Wing Operations Group Commander. General Nichols joined the Texas Air National Guard in April of 2000, where he was the Vice Commander of the 149th Fighter Wing. General Nichols is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in fighter aircraft. His most recent assignment was Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Texas National Guard.