Colonel Jefferson O'Donnell is the Wing Commander, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. He serves a diverse operational fighter wing equipped with F-15E and F-15SG fighter aircraft. The wing is comprised of 4,200 military and civilian members that support 20 squadrons, including a Republic of Singapore squadron.
Colonel O'Donnell was born in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1995. He earned his commission through Officer Training School in 1996 and completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, MS. After completing initial F-15E training, he reported for his first operational assignment to the 492d Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. He performed various duties culminating as Wing Functional Check Flight Program Manager and Instructor Pilot. As an Air Force Intern, he served with three offices: Acquisitions, Technology, and Logistics, Air Warfare Division; Rated Force Management; and Director's Action Group, Air Force Plans and Programs. Concurrently, he completed a Masters' Degree in Organizational Management at The George Washington University. In 2005, he reported to the 335th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, where he served as an F-15E Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations. In January 2008, General John Corley, Commander, Air Combat Command, selected him as Aide-de-Camp. In July 2009, Col O'Donnell returned to the 4th Fighter Wing and served as Director of Operations, 4th Operations Support Squadron, and commanded the 333d Fighter Squadron. In June 2013, Col O'Donnell served as Senior Military Evaluator for Air Warfare Systems, Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Washington, D.C. Most recently, he served as the Vice Commander for the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho for nine months prior to becoming the Wing Commander. He has flown in support of Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.
Col O'Donnell is a command pilot with over 2,500 hours in private planes, T-37, T-38, F-15E, and F-15SG.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelors of Science, Mathematics, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
2003 Squadron Officer School (in correspondence)
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2003 Masters, Organizational Management, The George Washington University,
Washington, D.C.
2006 Air Command and Staff College (in correspondence)
2012 Masters, Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Oct 1996 - Apr 1997, Services Officer, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
2. Apr 1997 - Jun 1998, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Mississippi
3. Jun 1998 - Apr 1999, Student Pilot, F-15E initial training, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
4. Apr 1999 - Sep 2002, F-15E pilot, flight lead, Supervisor of Flying, 492d Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
5. Oct 2002 - Jul 2003, F-15E Wing Functional Check Flight pilot, instructor pilot, and Supervisor of Flying, 48th Operations Group, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
6. Aug 2003 - Jul 2005, Air Force Intern, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
7. Aug 2005 - Jan 2007, F-15E Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 335th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
8. Feb 2007 - Dec 2008, F-15E Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, 335th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
9. Jan 2008 - Jun 2009, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Air Combat Command,
Langley AFB, VA
10. Jul 2009 - May 2010, Director of Operations, 4th Operations Support Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
11. Jun 2010 - Nov 2011, Commander, 333d Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
12. Dec 2011 - Jun 2012, Deputy Commander, 4th Operations Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
Jan 2012 - May 2012, (deployed) Deputy Commander, 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
13. Jul 2012 - May 2013, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
14. Jun 2013 - Jun 2015, Senior Military Evaluator for Air Warfare Systems, Office of Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
15. Jul 2015 - Mar 2016, Vice Commander, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, ID
16. Mar 2016 - Present, Commander, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, ID
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Total Flight Hours: 2500+
Instructor Hours: 627
Combat Hours: 377
Aircraft Flown: T-3, T-37, T-38, F-15E, F-15SG
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Squadron Outstanding Graduate, Squadron Officer School, 2003
Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction, Air Combat Command, 2006
4 FW Combat Pilot of the Year, Kitty Hawk Daedalians, 2007
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 4 Oct 1996
First Lieutenant 4 Oct 1998
Captain 4 Oct 2000
Major 1 Aug 2006
Lieutenant Colonel 1 Mar 2010
Colonel 1 Oct 2014
(Current as of March 2016)