Colonel Ryan R. Samuelson is the Commander 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The wing provides global reach airpower and deploys expeditionary forces in support of worldwide combat, contingency, and humanitarian requirements. The wing operates 35 KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft performing refueling, airlift and aeromedical evacuation missions supporting US and coalition contingency operations and USSTRATCOM strategic deterrence missions. As installation commander, he is also responsible for activities and assigned functions of Fairchild Air Force Base and support for 19 associate units.
Colonel Samuelson entered the Air Force in 1993 as a graduate from Purdue University and was initially assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH as an Acquisition Officer in the B-2 System Program Office. He was then selected for specialized undergraduate pilot training and earned his pilot wings in 1999 from Laughlin AFB, TX. Since then he has served as an Instructor Pilot, Tanker/Airlift Control Element (TALCE) Flight Commander, Presidential Advance Agent and Operations Officer while participating in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, JOINT FORGE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM. He also served as the Chief of the Combined Force Plans Branch and as Executive Officer to the 2-star Deputy Chief of Staff for United Nations Command and US Forces Korea and as Operations Officer and Commander of the 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease Air National Guard Base, NH. Prior to assuming his current position, Col Samuelson served as the Commander of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air base which provides airspace control, aeromedical evacuation, inflight air refueling, combat aerial delivery and close air support through US Central Command’s area of responsibility.
EDUCATION:
1993 Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2003 Master of Art in Business Administration, Webster University
2007 Air Command & Staff College, by Correspondence
2007 Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2012 Air War College, by Correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
ASSIGNMENTS:
Jul 94-Jun 98: Acquisition Program Manager, Development, Training & Production Integrated Product
Teams, B-2 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Jun 98-Jul 99: Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
Jul 99-Sep 03: KC-135R Pilot, Aircraft Commander & Instructor Pilot, Squadron & Wing Executive
Officer, 344th Air Refueling Squadron & 22d Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, KS
Sep 03-Jun 05: Flight & deployed TALCE Commander, Presidential Advance Agent, Operations Officer,
815th Air Mobility Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
Jun 05-Jan 06: Executive Officer to the Commander, 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, Travis, AFB, CA
Jan 06-Jul 06: Operations Officer, 571st Global Mobility Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
Jul 06-Jul 07: Student, Army Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
Jul 07-Apr 08: Chief, Combined Force Plans Branch, Combined Forces Command/US Forces Korea, Yongsan Army
Installation, Republic of Korea
Apr 08-May 09: Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, United Nations Command/US Forces, Korea, Yongsan
Army Installation, Republic of Korea
May 09-Jun 11:Operations Officer, 64th Air Refueling Squadron (Active Associate), Pease ANG Base, NH
Jun 11-Mar 13: Commander, 64th Air Refueling Squadron (Active Associate), Pease ANG Base, NH
Mar 13-Jul 14: Chief, Senior Leader Management Division, HQ Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
Jul 14-Jul 15: Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
Jul 15-Jun 16: Commander, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
Jul 16- Present: Commander, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, WA
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 2000
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1, KC-135R/RT, E-8, B-1B, B-52H, C-130H, C-21
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 20 December 1993
First Lieutenant 7 April 1996
Captain 7 April 1998
Major 1 June 2004
Lieutenant Colonel 1 May 2009
Colonel 1 July 2015
(Current as of July 2016)