Colonel DAVID J. SPISSO, II
Col. David J. Spisso II is the Commander, 186th Air Operations Group, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Mississippi. The 186th Air Operations Group provides Component Numbered Air Force staff personnel supporting HQ 1AF/AFNORTH, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense. He is responsible for providing guidance, oversight and direction to HQ 1AF/AFNORTH and its supporting command, USNORTHCOM.
Col. Spisso graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina and was commissioned through Air Force ROTC in 1996. After completing Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, he joined the 165th Operations Group where he piloted the C-130 H2/H3. During this period, Colonel Spisso held positions as Aircraft Mishap Investigator, 618 AOC/TACC Deputy Director of Operations, Deputy Director for Operations JFHQ Georgia, PATRIOT Exercise Director, and 116th Security Forces Commander. In 2011, he upgraded to Instructor Pilot in the C-130H2.
Col. Spisso maintains his currency as an Instructor Pilot on the C-130H2/H3. He has accumulated more than 600 combat hours to include tours in Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor Science in Business Administration, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
1999 Master of Business Degree in Business Administration, Auburn University, Montgomery, Ala.
2004 Squadron Officer School (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Air War College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2021 Defense Support of Civil Authorities II Course, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2022 Air Forces Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2022 Joint Task Force Commanders Course, USNORTHCOM, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1996 – December 1999, Acquisition Officer, Maxwell AFB - Gunter Annex, Ala.
2. December 1999 – March 2001, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training Laughlin AFB, Texas/ NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
3. March 2001 – November 2001, Copilot Initial Training, Little Rock, Ark.
4. April 2006 – June 2006, C-130H2 Aircraft Commander Upgrade Training, Little Rock, Ark.
5. August 2011 – October 2011, C-130H2 Instructor Pilot Upgrade Training, Little Rock, Ark.
6. November 2001 – January 2016, Pilot, Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, 165th Airlift Wing, Savannah Ga.
7. January 2016 – August 2018, 116th Security Forces Squadron Commander, Robins AFB, Ga.
8. August 2018 – June 2019, Chief Pilot, 158th Airlift Squadron, Savannah, Ga.
9. June 2019 – October 2020, Deputy Director for Operations, Georgia JFHQ, Savannah, Ga.
10. October 2020 – September 2021, A3 Air, Space and Information Operations Director, 186th Air Operations Group, Meridian, Miss.
11. September 2021 – February 2023, Commander, 186th Air Component Operations Squadron, 186th Air Operations Group, Meridian, Miss.
12. February 2023-Pesent, Commander, 186th Air Operations Group, 186th Air Refueling Wing, Meridian, Miss.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 3,500
Aircraft: C-130/H2/H3/J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit with Valor Device with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with 4 Oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Gold Stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Gold Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service with Oak Leaf Cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' Device and 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 1996
First Lieutenant May 29, 1998
Captain May 30, 2000
Major Oct. 23, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 23, 2012
Colonel Dec. 7, 2020
(Current as of November 2023)