By Joachim Jacob
Today, I found out that the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, launched their own and long-awaited public website in early October 2009, called The Official Web Site of Kandahar Airfield.
Currently, I'm still very busy to check all of their online stuff and to post a general update on Warthog News. Because of that please check this post again.
Let me start with recent info:
COMKAF/CC: 451st AEW is important
by Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
11/10/2009 - KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Kandahar Airfield is a strategically important airfield in southern Afghanistan, and the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, which was stood up July 2, plays a major role in the mission here.
Air Commodore Malcolm Brecht, a British International Security Assistance Force NATO officer and commander of Command Kandahar Airfield, shares reasons why the 451st AEW is so important to base operations.
Kandahar is located in the heartland of Afghanistan, in the badlands of the Taliban. This airfield allows the 451st AEW to provide immediate timely, response to warfighters on the ground.
"The 451st AEW at Kandahar Airfield is so important because you're close to where you're needed and airpower is about quick responses, adaptability and agility," Air Commodore Brecht said.
Air Commodore Brecht, who is responsible for the protection of the force, base operations and the development of the airfield, is also in charge of a ground holding unit, which protects the 650 square kilometers from rocket attacks and improvised explosive devices.
One way the 451st AEW assists him with this mission is through their Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance program in which unmanned aerial vehicles provide downlinks to the Joint Defense Operations Center, feeding information to ground troops so they may disrupt and deter attacks on the base, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenade attacks on aircraft.
"That feed from the (MQ-1) Predator is absolutely essential, and we get quite a lot of that from the 451st, which really helps the protection that I have of all the tenants here," he said. "Of the 20,000 people based here, more than 60 percent of the population is U.S. forces. You're providing that feed not only to protect yourselves but everyone else as well."
And even as the patrolmen outside the wire are protecting those stationed on the airfield, they too are subject to attacks as their area of responsibility is much more threatening than it would be inside the wire.
Recently, when one of the air commodore's ground soldiers was severely injured by an IED attack, airpower from the 451st AEW quickly came to his rescue.
"If something goes wrong, the enemy knows you want to go in and retrieve your injured soldier," Air Commodore Brecht said. "So, the first thing we do is call for air support from the 451st. One of your A-10s was in the overhead in a flash, and then a helicopter was able to come in to pick up our injured soldier and bring him back to Role 3 (hospital)."
The 451st AEW provides support from the C-130J Super Hercules unit that performs combat airlift throughout various locations within this area of responsibility.
"The ground commander isn't interested in the first piece of equipment that arrives in theater; that's irrelevant to him," said Air Commodore Brecht. "He thinks of getting the last piece of equipment that allows him to do his job. Your Hercules provides supplies wherever they are needed."
The 451st AEW also plays a fundamental role in repatriation. Although not all of those repatriations are for fallen U.S. soldiers, as this is a coalition airfield, the 451st AEW coordinates transportation efforts with Air Mobility Command's C-130J aircraft coming in and out for the repatriation ceremonies.
"It's the confidence the soldiers have on the ground that we're providing immediate, rapid air support," said the commander. "It's the confidence that we've got the air cover so that the helicopters can come in and pick up injured soldiers. It's the confidence that when you're injured, the aero medical flight crew can get to you and provide the care that you need. It's the confidence that if in the worse case you end up with dead soldiers, we can repatriate them quickly. What I see here is agility, adaptability and professionalism in a dignified, respectful manner and quickly. And that's what the soldiers are looking for."
Within the last six months, aircraft numbers on Kandahar Airfield have more than doubled, and the ground force population has even grown far more than the air population. But months ago, the airfield was one that the commander compared to the Wild West. There were people who would do fitness runs down the taxiways and across the runways. Vehicles drove wherever they pleased. Major improvements were needed for flightline security.
"We needed help and the 451st stepped in and provided us with people, who are now tactically controlled by me," Air Commodore Brecht said.
Security forces members of the 451st AEW make up most of flightline security, but are commanded by NATO officials.
"There are British, Canadians, French and all sorts of people who show the rich tapestry of multinational leaders here, but you're the main asset," he said.
The three biggest air forces on Kandahar are the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the Combat Aviation Brigade, which are all independent units. There are also the French Air Force, the Belgium Air Force, the U.K. ... 21 different airfield operators, including the Afghan National Army Air Corps, which are now also flying through Kandahar Airfield. All the players bring something to the table, but with all the different users, cultures, backgrounds and tactical procedures, challenges can arise within this very complex environment.
"From a NATO perspective, this is a hugely complex area, and we all come with our specializations wearing our own uniforms, aware of our own needs and our own constraints," Air Commodore Brecht said. "The 451st, and the U.S. in particular, come with awesome airpower and awesome capability with willing, capable people, but you're one more of about 21 different users on the airfield."
In the first two days of his command here, Air Commodore Brecht said there was a crash of a contractor's Mi-17 helicopter, which killed 16 people on the airfield. The next day, a Tornado GR4 crashed off the end of the runway.
He had support available from firefighters and various other organizations. The 451st AEW's flightline security, flight safety and explosive ordnance teams were also readily available.
"My goal is to make the airfield safe to operate on," the British commander said. "The benefit I get from the 451st AEW is that as an Air Force organization whose main effort is to understand and deliver airpower, you actually bring more benefit because of your air specialization. It gives me a source of people to tap for assistance."
The 451st AEW also supports the build-up of the Afghan National Army Air Corps, which stood up its second wing on Kandahar Airfield Oct. 5.
"Air forces are supporting our ground forces," Air Commodore Brecht said. "They're the main efforts out there doing counter-insurgency, and I wish to thank the forces who serve. Thank you for the support you provide multi-nationally to all the ground troops."
Source
Stand-alone news photo:
Auditors Amy Johnson, Pam Lewers, and Brittany Hargis, and the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Group commander, Col. Robert Hopkins, stand in front of an A-10 Thunderbolt II on Kandahar Airfield. The aircraft should be A-10 80-0179. (Courtesy photo) Hi-res
Stand-alone news photo:
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Senior Airman Scotty Loga, 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Armament Flight, inspects a pylon for chaffed wires and foreign objects that might be loose here, November 14, 2009. The inspection of the GAU-8 Gatling gun is also as crucial as structural integrity, because without weapons systems close air support missions could not be fulfilled. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
News photos:
Airmen from the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron install a 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun here, November 4, 2009. The GAU-8 itself weighs 620 pounds, but the complete weapon, with feed system and drum, weighs 4,029 pounds with maximum ammunition load. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Senior Airman Sophia Ramallo (left) raises a GAU-8 30 mm Gatling gun as Staff Sgt. Ryan Van den Brand (right) makes minor adjustments to spacing as the gun is raised into place here, Novemeber 4, 2009. The GAU-8 is not only extremely accurate, but it can fire from 2,100 to 4,200 shells per minute. Airman Ramallo and Sergeant Van den Brand are armament troops for the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor Hi-res
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Staff Sgt. Ryan Van den Brand visually ensures there is enough clearance available as a GAU-8 30 mm weapon system is lifted into place for installation here, Nov. 4, 2009. At 4,000 feet 80 percent of rounds fired hit within a 20-foot radius. Sergeant Van den Brand is an armament troop for the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Senior Airman Sophia Ramallo checks for clearance as she moves a 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun into position for installation here, November 4, 2009. Once fully installed, the GAU-8 weapons system will represent 16 percent of the A-10s unladen weight. Airman Ramallo is an armament troop for the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
News photos:
Fox News reporter Casey Stegall preps for a news cast at the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here Sept. 1, 2009. Fox News toured and filmed several different locations including the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, 354th EFS and 55th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. Mr. Stegall is a network correspondent for Fox News Channel, based with the bureau in Los Angeles, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
Fox News reporter Casey Stegall records a segment for an upcoming broadcast at the 354th Expediationary Fighter Squadron here Sept. 1, 2009. Fox News toured and filmed several segments at different locations including the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, 354th EFS and 55th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. Mr. Stegall is a network correspondent for Fox News Channel, based at the bureau in Los Angeles, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
News photos "Locked and Loaded":
Airman 1st Class Zachariah Grube and Airman 1st Class Shane Sprague seperate a string of 30mm casings after filling a munitions canister with good rounds at the M4 pad in the Army Ammunition Supply point here, September 15, 2009. 12,000 rounds of 30mm bullets have been shot off since the arrival of the A-10 thunderbolt on July 19, 2009. Airman Grube and Airman Sprague are Munitions Crew Members with the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force base. Airman Sprague hails from Battle Creek, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
Airman 1st Class Daniel Simonton controls the ammunition loading assemply by control panel while other Airmen feed and store 30mm shells here, September 15, 2009. Currently the A-10 Thunderbolt and GAU-8 gatling gun use the the 30mm shells. Airman Simonton is a Munitions Crew member with the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Mothan Air Force Base and hails from Sahurita, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
Airman 1st Class Zachariah Grube rolls an empty string of 30mm casings after connecting unused rounds with a fresh string at the M4 pad in the Army Ammunition Supply point here, September 15, 2009. Using the a GFU-7 control board and a GFU-8 ammunition loading assembly Airmen link left over 30mm rounds with a new string. Airman Grube is a Munitions Crew Member with the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force base and hails from Diamond, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
Stand-allone news photo:
Brigadier General Guy Walsh, a Maryland Air Guardsman from the 175th Airlift Wing in Baltimore, is the commander of the Air Force's newest air expeditionary wing in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)
News photos:
Staff Sgt. Michael Sangfield operates a CR-1 Crane to hoist an Asus ejection seat up to Staff Sgt. Joseph Munoz to install into an A-10 Thunderbolt II here, September 2, 2009. Sergeant Sangfield and Munoz are aircrew egress craftsmen with the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Montham AFB, Ariz. Sergeant Sangfield hails from Pensacola, Fla., and Sergeant Munoz hails from Frezno, Calif. Hi-res
Staff Sgt. Paul Retherford gives Tech. Sgt. Douglas Jones the thumbs up after positioning an A-10 Thunderbolt ammo drum for installation here, September 1, 2009. Aircraft maintenance used an MH2-83 bomb lift truck also known as a "Jammer" to lift up the ammo drums during installation. Sergeant Retherford is an Armament Flight Chief with the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Sergeant Jones is an Armorment back shop troop with the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
Senior Airman Brandon Catlett tightens a drum mounting bolt to secure an A-10 Thunderbolt's drum assembly here, September 1, 2009. The drum assembly is where the ammunition for the A-10's cannon is stored during flight. Airman Catlett is a weapons load crewmember for the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and hails from Waldon, Ark. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Staff Sgt. Damon Ballard inspects the tail flaps of A-10 81-0948 before departing the airstrip here, September 2, 2009. Pre-flight inspections are crucial to the safety of not only the pilots but to the multi-million-dollar aircraft at his fingertips. Sergeant Ballard is a crew chief for the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and hails from Newton, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Taylor) Hi-res
Background info:
Official biography of Brigadier General Guy M. Walsh, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing commander:
Hi-resBrigadier General Guy M. Walsh is the commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar, Afghanistan. He is responsible for all U.S. Air Force combat operations and support activities at Kandahar Airfield and forward operating bases. The Wing provides tactical airlift, close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, command and control, combat search and rescue, casualty and aeromedical evacuation capabilities whenever and wherever needed.
General Walsh graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1979. Following undergraduate pilot training, he flew the RF-4C in Europe. He converted to the F-4C, F-4D, YF-4E, and T-38 at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, CA. He transitioned to the A-10A Thunderbolt II serving as an instructor pilot, flight commander, operations officer, squadron commander, and deputy operations group commander. He previously commanded the 358th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan, Ariz. General Walsh served a Joint tour at U.S. Central Command as Chief of Air Operations and Deputy Chief of Current Operations. He served as the Commander, 1st Air Support Operations Group at Fort Lewis, WA. He also was assigned as the I Corps Air Liaison Officer, as principal advisor to the I Corps Commanding General on the employment of air power, joint task force, contingency operations, and Stryker Brigade Combat Team Transformation. A command pilot, the general has 4,200 flying hours, principally in attack/fighter aircraft.
EDUCATION
1979 Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
1985 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1985 Master's Degree in International Relations, University of Southern California (Cambridge University, United Kingdom)
1994 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
1998 National Defense Fellowship, Institute for National Security Studies, USAFA, Colo.
1999 Senior Officer Space Application Course, Space Warfare Center, Schreiver AFB, Colo.
1999 Armed Forces Staff College Joint Officer's School, Norfolk, Va.
2005 Title 10/Title 32 Joint Commander's Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2002 Joint Firepower Control Course for Senior Leaders, Nellis AFB, Nev.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1979- August 1980, student, undergraduate pilot training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. August 1980 - May 1981, RF-4 pilot, 333rd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. May 1981- December 1984, RF-4 Pilot, Chief of Wing Flying Safety, 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Sq, RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom
4. January 1985 - March 1985, student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
5. April 1985 - February 1987, F-4 pilot, T-38 pilot, and Executive Officer, 6512th Test Squadron, USAF Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
6. May 1987 - July 1988, A-10 Pilot, Chief of Plans, Wing Training Officer, 25th Fighter Squadron, Suwon Air Base, Republic of Korea
7. July 1988-January 1992, A-10 Instructor Pilot, Central Instructor School Commander, Flight Commander, and Operation Officer, 357th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
8. January 1992 - June 1992, A-10 Operations Officer, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
9. June 1992 - June 1993, Treaty Compliance Officer, Chemical Weapons Convention, Panama Canal Treaty Implementation Plan Director, Plans and Policy Division, HQ Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
10. June 1993 - May 1994, student, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
11. May 1994 - June 1997, Operations Officer/Commander, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
12. July 1997 - June 1998, National Defense Fellow (Senior Service School), Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
13. June 1998 - June 2000, Chief of Joint Air Operations Branch, Deputy Chief Current Operations, Operations Directorate, J-3, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Fla.
14. July 2000 - July 2001, Deputy Commander, 355th Operations Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
15. July 2001-November 2002, Commander, 1st Air Support Operations Group and Air Liaison Officer to HQ First Corps, US Army, Ft Lewis, Wash.
16. May 2002 - September 2002, Senior Air Advisor to Coalition, Land Component Forces Commander (CFLCC), Camp Doha, Kuwait
17. May 2005 - August 2005, Director of Staff, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
18. December 2002 - June 2009, Commander, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, Baltimore, Md.
19. July 2009 - Present, Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 4,200
Aircraft flown: A-10A, A-10C, RF-4C, F-4D, YF-4E, T-38 and C-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with a silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
State of Maryland Commendation Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1990 USAF Anthony C. Shine Top Fighter Pilot Award
Co-editor of Space power for a New Millennium (McGraw-Hill)
2001 AFA 2001 AFA Citation of Honor Recipient/ Gil Robb Wilson for Arts and Literature
2001 CSAF Team Excellence Award for Briefing Room Interactive
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Brigadier General October 28, 2005
(Current as of August 2009)
Source
Official biography of Colonel Peter C. Hunt, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander:
Hi-resColonel Peter C. Hunt is the vice commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. The colonel is second in command of a wing with a multi-role mission to provide persistent and powerful airpower presence in the Afghanistan area of operations. He is responsible for providing tactical airlift, close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), command and control, airborne datalink, combat search and rescue, casualty and aeromedical evacuation capabilities whenever and wherever needed. The wing consists of five expeditionary flying squadrons including A-10 attack aircraft; HH-60 helicopters; RC-700A reconnaissance aircraft; C-130J transports, MQ-1 ISR aircraft and MQ-9 attack aircraft. He assists the commander in formulation and direction of command policies and procedures and supervises and coordinates activities of the wing staff.
Colonel Hunt entered the Air Force in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree and his commission through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Notre Dame. He has served in a variety of operational, command and staff positions and has authored works on airpower in coalition warfare and urban operations. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Air University, and a master's degree in national resource strategy National Defense University.
He is a command pilot with more than 3,300 flying hours in the A-10A, Alpha Jet and F-117A and has flown mission in operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
1982 Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, with honors, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
1988 US Air Force Squadron Officer School
1995 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1996 Master of Airpower Art and Science degree, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000 US Air Force Air War College
2004 Distinguished graduate and Master of National Resource Strategy degree, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1982 - December 1983, student, undergraduate pilot training and fighter lead-in training, 71st Student Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla. and 436th Tactical Fighter Training squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
2. January 1984 - May 1984, student, A-10 replacement training unit, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
3. June 1984 - June 1985, A-10 pilot, 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Suwon AB, S. Korea
4. July 1985 - August 1989, A-10 instructor pilot, flight examiner and flight commander, 76th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB La.
5. September 1989 - July 1990, student, German Basic Course, 3483 Student Squadron, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, Calif.
6. August 1990 - December 1992, USAF exchange officer, Alpha Jet pilot and flight commander, 1st
Jagdbombergeschwader, Oldenburg AB, Germany
7. January 1993 - July 1994, F-117A pilot and chief of F-117A training, 415th Fighter Squadron and 49th Operations Support Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
8. August 1994 - June 1995, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 1995 - June 1996, student, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 1996 - July 1999, chief of EUCOM joint training and exercises, the Joint Staff J-7, Joint Warfighting Center, Fort Monroe, Va.
11. August 1999 - June 2003, chief of safety, 23rd Fighter Group and A-10 operations officer, 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
12. July 2003 - July 2004, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort McNair, D.C.
13. August 2004 - April 2007, Chief of Plans, US Central Command Air Forces and Commander, 609th Combat Plans Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
14. May 2007 to June 2009, Chief of Staff, 9 AF and US Air Forces Central, Shaw AFB, S.C.
15. June 2009 to present, Vice Wing Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Hours: More than 3,400
Aircraft Flown: A-10A, Alpha Jet and F-117A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant May 15, 1982
First Lieutenant August 1, 1984
Captain August 1, 1986
Major September 1, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 1999
Colonel February 1, 2005
(Current as of August 2009)
Source
Official biography of Colonel John A. Cherrey, 451st Expeditionary Operations Group commander:
Hi-resColonel John A. Cherrey is the Commander, 451st Expeditionary Operations Group, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. As commander, he is responsible for conducting flying operations as well as aeromedical evacuation, air control and operational support. The group consists of an A-10 Thunderbolt squadron, an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter squadron, a C-130J airlift squadron, a BD-700 experimental command and control squadron and an Unmanned Aerial Systems squadron. During each Air Expeditionary Force rotation, approximately 550 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel are assigned to the group.
Colonel Cherrey graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology with Honors in 1988 receiving a Bachelor's of Engineering in Engineering Physics (specializing in applied lasers and optics). He also holds both a Masters in Business Administration and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy. He has been a staff officer on the Air Staff working fighter requirements as well as global strike CONOPS. He commanded the 81st Fighter Squadron in Operation Enduring Freedom, has been a weapons officer and an operational test and evaluation pilot. He is a joint qualified officer with a tour at the U.S. Army's Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Colonel Cherrey is a senior pilot with more than 3,350 hours in the T-37, T-38 and A-10A/C. He has flown contingency and combat sorties over Korea, Bosnia Serbia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor's of Engineering w/ Honors in Engineering Physics: Applied Lasers and Optics, Stevens Institute of Technology, N.J.
1992 Joint Air Ground Operations Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1996 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2001 U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2001 Masters of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Ariz. 2007 National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington DC 2007 Masters of National Security Strategy, National War College
EXPERIENCE
1. March 1989 - March 1990, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. March 1990 - June 1990, Student, lead in fighter training, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3. July 1990 - September 1990, Student, A-10 replacement training unit, Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. October 1990 - April 1992, A-10 Pilot, 74th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB, La.
5. May 1992 - September 1993, OA-10 Pilot and Training Officer, 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
6. October 1993 - May 1994, Assistant Chief, Group Standardization and Evaluation, 52nd Operations Group, Osan AB, Korea
7. May 1994 - June 1994, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 1994 - March 1997, Project Manager and A/OA-10 Operational Test and Evaluation Pilot, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. July 1996 - December 1996, Student, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. April 1997 - May 2000, Assistant Director of Operations, Flight Commander, and Weapons Officer, 81st Fighters Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
11. June 2000 - June 2001, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
12. June 2001 - April 2003, Fighter Branch Chief and A-10 Program Element Monitor, Directorate of Operational Capabilities Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air and Space Operations, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. April 2003 - June 2006, Deputy Group Commander, 52nd Operations Group; Commander and Director of Operations, 81st Fighters Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
14. August 2006 - June 2007, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
15. June 2007 - May 2009, Director, Air Force Element at US Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
16. June 2009 - present, Commander, 451st Expeditionary Operations Group, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3,350
Aircraft flown: T-37, AT/T-38, A/OA-10A, A-10C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1999 USAFE Commander's Fighter Aviator of the Year
1999 Co-Winner, Jolly Green Association, Rescue Mission of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Colonel: September 1, 2007
(Current as of August 2009)
Source
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