Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Schellbach is the Commander, 186th Operations Group, Key Field Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Meridian, Mississippi. The 186th Operations Group is comprised of four squadrons: the 153d Air Refueling Squadron, the 186th Operations Support Squadron, the 238th Contingency Response Squadron and the 248th Combat Airfield Operations Squadron and currently has . oOver 250 personnel are currently assigned to the 186th Operations Group.
Lt Col Schellbach joined the Mississippi Air National Guard in 1996 in the 186th Maintenance Group and was later commissioned in 2005 as a graduate of the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, Tennessee. During his enlisted career he performed maintenance on the KC-135R as a crew chief attaining a 7-level in that AFSC. He graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training in 2006 at Vance Air Force base, winning the Top Stick Award in the T-1 aircraft. Lt Col Schellbach then joined the 186th Operations Group to fly the KC-135R. His duties have included several Office Chief positions including Current Ops, Tactics, Scheduling and Standards and Evaluations. He has supported numerous operations at home and overseas, operating as both aircrew and staff, supporting. Notably, he participated in operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel. He is a command pilot with over 5,500 hours in the KC-135R, C-12, MC-12W, and C-27J. Prior to assuming his current position he was the 153d Air Refueling Squadron Commander at Key Field ANGB, Meridian, Mississippi.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Mississippi State University, Meridian
2005 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, TN
2009 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2015 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2016 KC-135 Weapons Instructor Course, Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA
2021 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2005 – July 2006, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base (AFB), OK
2. August 2006 – December 2006, Student, KC-135R Initial Qualification, Altus AFB, OK
3. January 2007 – October 2008, KC-135R Pilot, 153 ARS, Key Field ANGB, Meridian, MS
4. October 2008 – January 2010, KC-135R Aircraft Commander, 153 ARS, Key Field ANGB, MS
5. January 2010 – October 2011, C-12/MC-12W Instructor Pilot, 153 ARS, Key Field ANGB, MS
6. November 2011 – March 2012, C-27J Training, Robins AFB, GA.
7. March 2012 – July 2012, C-27J Aircraft Commander, 153 ARS, Key Field ANGB, MS
8. July 2012 – July 2013, MC-12W Instructor Pilot, Beale AFB, CA & Key Field ANGB, MS
9. August 2013 – Present, KC-135R Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 153 ARS, Key Field ANGB, MS
10. March 2018 – October 2019, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, Key Field ANGB, MS
11. October 2019 – June 2025, Commander, 153d Air Refueling Squadron, Key Field ANGB, MS
12. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 186th Operations Group, Key Field ANGB, MS
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,500 with 938 combat hours and 172 combat sorties
Aircraft flown: T-6A, T-1A, KC-135R/T, C-12, MC-12W, C-27J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, 8 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Longevity Service Award, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, 2 Hourglass Devices and 2 ‘M’ Devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol/M-16) Air and Space Training Ribbon
NATO Medal, 1 Service Star
Mississippi Medal of Efficiency
Mississippi War Medal
Mississippi Service School Medal
Mississippi Longevity Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class – Jan. 04, 1997 Senior Airman – Jul.11 1998 Staff Sergeant – Jul. 07 2001 Second Lieutenant – Feb. 18, 2005
First Lieutenant – Feb. 18, 2007
Captain – Feb. 18, 2009
Major – Feb. 20, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel – Mar. 05, 2017
(Current as of June September 2025)