Col. Gary R. Charlton II is the commander, 107th Attack Wing, New York Air National Guard, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, NY. He commands the 107th Attack Wing, encompassing operations, medical, and mission support group functions as well as, two geographically separated units. He is responsible for the deployment and employment of assigned personnel and equipment to ensure these assets are available to support all state and national requirements.

Charlton enlisted in the New York Air National Guard in May 1990 and served as a fuels systems technician. He graduated from Columbia College in 1995 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He then commissioned in 2000 and attended undergraduate pilot training in 2001. Charlton completed initial F-16 qualification training in 2002 and served as an F-16C pilot flying with the 138th Fighter Squadron, Hancock Field, NY. He has held the positions of flight, detachment and squadron commander of the 138th Fighter Squadron; as well as 107th Operations Group commander. Prior to his current assignment, he was the vice commander of the 107th Attack Wing, Niagara Falls, NY.

A combat veteran, Charlton served seven combat deployments, three while enlisted, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, and Northern Watch, and four additional deployments flying F-16C combat missions in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He is a command pilot with over 3,200 flying hours in the T-37, T-38A, T-38C, F-16C/D, MQ-1, and MQ-9.