Col. Carrelli assumes leadership of 111th Fighter Wing

Col. Tony Carrelli, 111th Maintenance Group commander, receives the guideon from Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Sischo, Deputy Adjutant General-Air and Commander of the Pa. Air National Guard and assumes command of the 111th Fighter Wing during a change of command ceremony held Aug. 2 at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo) Hi-res

by Tech. Sgt. Jonathan E. White
111th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

11/12/2009 - WILLOW GROVE AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. -- During a change of command ceremony held Aug. 2, Col. Paul Comtois, 111th Fighter Wing commander, passed the guideon and relinquished command of the 111th FW to Col. Tony Carrelli, 111th Maintenance Group commander, in Hangar 3 at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa.

"We chose Colonel Carrelli to lead the 111th Fighter Wing into the future," said Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Sischo, Deputy Adjutant General-Air and Commander of the Pa. Air National Guard. "It's a huge responsibility and he is very enthusiastic about it. I have nothing but the greatest confidence in his ability to lead you and I'm sure I can count on you to support him to make the future of the 111th successful."

After assuming command, Colonel Carrelli thanked Colonel Comtois for his mentorship and for leaving him with a Wing that's 100 percent. "I couldn't walk into a better position and unit," he explained.

Colonel Carrelli began his career with the 111th in 1999 as an A-10 pilot. From 2003 until 2006, he served as 111th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander. Then, from 2006 until 2009, he served as the 111th Maintenance Group commander. He is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours and has also flown the T-37, T-38, and AT-38B. He served two assignments in the T-37 and four assignments in the A-10 before coming to the 103rd FS at Willow Grove.

Colonel Carrelli has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo. In 1995, he received his Master's degree in aviation science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Fla. He has completed Air War College, Air Command and Staff College and Squadron Officer School. His military awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one device, Air Medal with five devices, Aerial Achievement Medal with five devices, Air Force Commendation Medal with three devices, Air Force Achievement Medal with one device, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and eight devices.

Colonel Paul Comtois served as Wing Commander for three years, was instrumental in navigating the 111th FW from base closure actions stemming from Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission actions to the establishment of a joint interagency installation (JII), leaving the Wing strong and ready to assume future missions. He joined the 111th in 1994 as an A-10 pilot and has over 2,700 flying hours. During his tour, he also served as Chief of Safety, Air Operations Officer, 103rd Operations Support Flight Commander, Wing Plans Officer, Operations Group Commander, Vice Wing Commander, and Air Commander.

Source

Biography of Colonel Anthony J. Carrelli:

Hi-res

Colonel Anthony J. Carrelli is Commander, 111th Fighter Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, located at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Willow Grove Pennsylvania.

Colonel Carrelli graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1985. He later received a Master's Degree in Aviation Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1995.

He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Reese AFB, Texas in 1986. Following his training, Colonel Carrelli remained at Reese AFB as a T-37 instructor pilot for the 35th Flying Training Squadron from 1986 to 1990. He was then assigned as a mission ready A-10 pilot in the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska from 1990 to 1991 and also the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina from 1991 to 1992. Colonel Carrelli then was assigned to the 559th Flying Training Squadron as a T-37 pilot instructor pilot at Randolph AFB, Texas from 1992-1995. He then moved to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ where he served as an A/OA-10 instructor pilot in the 354th Fighter Squadron from 1995-1997 and the 357th Fighter Squadron from 1997-1999.

Colonel Carrelli began his tour with the 111th Fighter Wing in 1999 as an A/OA-10 pilot in the 103rd Fighter Squadron. In 2003, he moved to the Maintenance Group as the Commander of the 111th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron then Commander of the 111th Maintenance Group in 2006. In 2009, he assumed his present position as Commander of the 111th Fighter Wing and is still an active A/OA-10 pilot.

EDUCATION:
1985 Bachelors of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy
1989 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
1995 Masters of Aviation Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL (Correspondence)
2001 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL (Correspondence)
2005 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL (Correspondence)

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. 1985-1986, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese AFB, TX
2. 1986-1990, T-37 Instructor Pilot, 35th Flying Training Squadron, Reese AFB, TX
3. 1990-1990, AT-38 Pilot, 438th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
4. 1990-1990, A-10 Pilot, 357th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
5. 1990-1991, A-10 Pilot, 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, AK
6. 1991-1992, A-10 Pilot, 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC
7. 1992-1995, T-37 Pilot Instructor Pilot, 559th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
8. 1995-1997, A-10 Pilot, 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
9. 1997-1999, A-10 Pilot, 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
10. 1999-2003, A-10 Pilot, 103rd Fighter Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, PA
11. 2003-2006, Commander, 111th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, PA
12. 2006-2009, Commander, 111th Maintenance Group, Willow Grove ARS, PA
13. 2009-Present, Commander 111th Fighter Wing, Willow Grove ARS, PA

FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4,500
Aircraft Flown: A/OA-10, T-37, T-38, AT-38B

MAJOR AWARD AND DECORATIONS:
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with one silver leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with one silver leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Gallant Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor device and one silver and two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Promoted to present rank on October 1, 2007
(Current as of August 2009)

Source