Colonel James R. Stevenson, Jr. is Commander of the 155th Air Refueling Wing at the Lincoln Municipal Airport, Lincoln, Nebraska. The Mission Statement for the 155th Air Refueling Wing is to “deliver fuel, cargo, people and support worldwide”. The wing provides global reach airpower and deploys expeditionary forces in support of worldwide combat, contingency and humanitarian requirements. The wing operates eight KC-135R aircraft performing air refueling, airlift and aeromedical evacuation missions supporting U.S. and coalition contingency operations and the U.S. Strategic Command strategic deterrence mission.
Colonel Stevenson received his commission through Officer Training School in 1989 after graduating from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska. He earned his pilot wings in 1990 and began his flying career as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot in the T-37B at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. As an Undergraduate Pilot Training Instructor Pilot, he rose in the squadron to Class Commander, Assistant Flight Commander and then served as the Squadron Commander’s Executive Officer. In 1994, he was reassigned to fly the C-130E with the 347th Composite Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. From 1994 to 1997, he held positions as a Tactician, Chief Scheduler and Mobility Flight Commander and gained extensive deployment experience in the European and Southwest Asian areas of responsibility.
Colonel Stevenson joined the Nebraska Air National Guard in 1997 and subsequently attended the KC-135R Tanker Qualification Course. He has held positions in the 173rd Air Refueling Squadron as Flight Commander, Chief of Training, Chief of Tactics, Director of Operations and Commander, before becoming the 155th Operations Group Commander in 2011. His next assignment was to Offutt AFB as Commander of the 170th Group from July 2011 - Mar 2013. Returning to the 155th ARW in March of 2013, he became the Vice Wing Commander and subsequently took Command of the 155th ARW in Aug of 2014. He was one of the initial cadre of pilots qualified on the Block 40 upgrade of the KC-135R and is the Air National Guard Action Officer for the KC-135R Block 45 upgrade. Colonel Stevenson is a command pilot with over 4000 hours of flying time in T-37B, C-130E, RC-135, OC-135, and KC-135R aircraft and has combat flight time in contingency operations ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of General Studies, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE
1994 Squadron Officer School in residence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2003 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Combat Aircrew Tactics Senior Officers Course, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
2007 Air War College, by correspondence
2012 ANG Senior Leaders Maintenance Course, ANG Readiness Center, Joint Base
Andrews, MD
2012 Joint Task Force Commanders Course, NORTHCOM, Peterson Air Force Base, CO
2013 ANG Commanders Development Course, ANG Readiness Center, Joint Base
Andrews, MD
2013 Joint Domestic Operations Course, JFHQ Nebraska National Guard, Lincoln, NE
2013 Master of Business Administration, Bellevue University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1989 – February 1990; student pilot, Vance Air Force Base, OK
2. February 1990 – July 1990; T-37 Pilot Instructor Training Course, Randolph Air Force Base, TX
3. July 1990 – March 1994; T-37B Instructor Pilot, Class Commander, Executive Officer, 8th Flying Training Squadron, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance Air Force Base, OK
4. March 1994 – June 1994; C-130 Initial and Tactical Qualification, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
5. July 1994 – November 1997; C-130E Aircraft Commander 52nd Airlift S Squadron, 347th Composite Wing, Moody Air Force Base, GA
6. December 1997 – September 2005; Aircraft Commander, Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, KC-135R; Flight Commander, Chief of Training and Tactics, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, Lincoln, NE
7. October 2005 – February 2008; Director of Operations, 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, Lincoln, NE
8. February 2008 – September 2010; Commander, 173rd Air Refueling, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, Lincoln, NE
9. September 2010 – July 2011; Commander, 155th Operations Group, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, Lincoln, NE
10. July 2011 – March 2013; Commander, 170th Group, Nebraska Air National Guard, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, NE
11. March 2013 – August 2014; Vice Commander, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, Lincoln, NE
12. August 2014 – Present; Wing Commander, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, Lincoln, NE
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 4,000
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, C-130E, KC-135R, OC-135, RC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with nine oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Services Medal with service star
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with two oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ device and silver hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant January 27, 1989
First Lieutenant January 27, 1991
Captain January 27, 1993
Major October 14, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel June 16, 2005
Colonel September 9, 2011
(Current as of August 2014)