MADISON, Wis. – Maj. Gen. David W. May, former Wisconsin adjutant general, retired from the United States Air Force and the Wisconsin National Guard Dec.1.
Originally from Middleton, May commissioned into the Air Force in August 1996 through the Air Force Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Over his career, he held leadership and staff roles within the Pentagon, Air Force Cyber Command, U.S. Transportation Command and the Wisconsin National Guard, with deployments to the Middle East and Horn of Africa in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Following an early promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel, May transitioned to the National Guard and served in many key roles to include the commander of Volk Field Air National Guard Base and the director of domestic operations for the Wisconsin National Guard.
His career culminated in his position as Wisconsin’s 32nd adjutant general, during which he commanded nearly 10,000 Soldiers and Airmen, oversaw both Army and Air National Guard missions, managed emergency operations and communications, and advised the governor as the state’s homeland security advisor and military chief of staff.
Prior to his role as the adjutant general, May commanded the Wisconsin Air National Guard, overseeing the 115th Fighter Wing’s conversion from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the F-35A Lightning II, along with numerous other foreign and domestic missions fulfilled by the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, Volk Field ANGB in Camp Douglas and the 115th Fighter Wing in Madison.
May retired as a joint qualified officer with a doctorate in human resource management. He graduated from a number of advanced military educational programs and is a 1988 graduate of Middleton High School.
He currently serves as the vice president for military partnerships with Military Spouse Jobs and VetJobs, providing employment support to over 400,000 members of the military community.
He and his wife Jeanette live in Northern Wisconsin with their three rescue dogs. They are passionate about veteran support and animal welfare, actively contributing to local adoption and advocacy efforts.