Col John-Paul P. Adrian is the Commander, 366th Mission Support Group, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. He oversees six combat-ready squadrons with personnel across 42 career fields. The Gunfighters of the Mission Support Group provide communications, security, contracting, engineering, services, supply, fuels, transportation, and mobility support to the 366th Fighter Wing, including three flying squadrons and 5,100 base personnel. In wartime, the group provides all elements to deploy to bare base environments, establish infrastructure, and support air operations.
Col Adrian graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2007 and commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps as a Distinguished Graduate. A career security forces officer and qualified political affairs strategist, Col Adrian is a Joint Qualified Officer who has completed various command and staff assignments at the squadron, interagency, Joint Staff, and Headquarters Air Force levels. Col Adrian has deployed in support of operations Enduring Freedom, Enduring Freedom—Horn of Africa, and Octave Shield. Prior to his current position, Col Adrian was a Senior Developmental Education Student at the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.
EDUCATION
2007 Bachelor of Arts, Theology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
2007 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Security Forces Basic Officer Course, Camp Bullis, Tx.
2010 AETC Academic Instructor Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Master of Arts in Management, American Military University, Charles Town, W.V.
2019 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Air Force Fellow, CSAF Foreign Policy Advisor Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2026 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, Distinguished Graduate, National War College, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2007–June 2009, Flight Commander, 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wy.
2. June 2009–May 2010, Commander, 90th Tactical Response Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wy.
3. May 2010–January 2013, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies & Operations Officer, Air Force ROTC Detachment 165, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.
4. January 2013–March 2014, Deputy Chief, Technical Support Team, Office of the Defense Representative - Pakistan, Shahbaz AB & U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan
5. March 2014–April 2017, Operations Officer, 569th United States Forces Police Squadron, Vogelweh AS, Germany
(Deployed January 2015–June 2015, Joint Defense Force Commander, 870th Air Expeditionary Squadron & Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa, Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti)
6. May 2017–June 2019, Commander, 4th Security Forces Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
7. June 2019–June 2020, Air Force Fellow, Air War College, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
(Chief of Staff of the Air Force Foreign Policy Advisor Fellowship: Visiting Fellow, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University; Advisor, Office of Venezuela Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State)
8. June 2020–June 2022, Political-Military Planner & Action Officer, Homeland Division, Deputy Directorate - Western Hemisphere, Directorate for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Va.
9. June 2022–July 2024, Commander, 5th Security Forces Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
10. July 2024–July 2025, Executive Officer, Directorate of Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. August 2025–June 2026, Student, National War College, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2026–Present, Commander, 366th Mission Support Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENT
1. June 2020–June 2022, Politico-Military Strategist & Action Officer, Homeland Division, Deputy Directorate -Western Hemisphere, Directorate for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Secretary of State Certificate of Appreciation, U.S. Department of State
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2008 Leadership Award, Security Forces Basic Officer Course
2014 Arthur S. Flemming Award, George Washington University (USAF & DoD Honoree)
2018 Air Combat Command Outstanding Security Forces Unit of the Year, as the unit commander
2020 National Security Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
2020 Military Leadership Fellow, Jewish Institute for National Security of America
2021 Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations, five-year term