2025 SF Wing & Group Commanders

Defender Nation,

Please join me in congratulating our Defenders selected for Wing and Group Command positions in 2025!

It truly is an honor to lead Airmen at these levels and selection for these positions is highly competitive.

Our Airmen expect and deserve your very best; I know you will deliver.  You will lead them through one of the most significant structural changes in Air Force history.

We are proud to have you leading the next generation of Airmen.

My sincerest congratulations to you and your families on this amazing opportunity!

Wing Command:

            Col James Clark: 11th Wing, Joint Base Andrews, MD

            Col Mike Jewell: 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Fairford, UK

            Col Justin Secrest: 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM

            Col Mike Shirley: Scott Air Base Wing, Scott AFB, IL

            Col Bill Smith: Hurlburt SpecOps Air Base Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL

Group Command:

            Col Joe Bincarousky: 316th Security Forces Group, Joint Base Andrews, MD

            Col Drew Gehler: 341st Security Forces Group, Malmstrom AFB, MT

            Col Megan Hall: 820th Base Defense Group, Moody AFB, GA

            Col Jeremy Sheppard: 90th Security Forces Group, FE Warren AFB, WY

            Col Rich Zeigler: 5th Mission Support Group, Minot AFB, ND

I am proud to serve with you all!

Colonel Filler

Congratulations to our newest COLONELS!

Defender Nation,

Please join me as we congratulate our newest Colonels!

Colonels, a huge congratulations to each of you on this achievement! It is no surprise Defender Nation swept the field with 17 Colonel Selects! The Air Force has recognized your leadership and the dedication you and your families have given our enterprise. I ask you to take this amazing opportunity and fearlessly lead our Airmen through tomorrow’s challenges. Our Airmen need a renewed focus on pride and professionalism, basic combat skills training, and a warrior ethos. You are absolutely the right group of Colonels to lead us into success.

You have the utmost trust and support of all our Defenders. You were deliberately selected for this new role from a group of amazing officers. I am excited to share this next chapter with you.

Once again, my sincerest congratulations to you and your loved ones. Thank you for showing up every day ready to make a difference.

Col(s) Steve Addington

Col(s) Cassie Bates

Col(s) Mike Cheatham

Col(s) Greg DeGruchy

Col(s) Amber Goodwin

Col(s) Jaime Hart

Col(s) Scott Haseldon

Col(s) Alex Liggett

Col(s) Brandon McKinnon

Col(s) Jonathon Murray

Col(s) Ryan Natalini

Col(s) Josh Nelson

Col(s) Marc Ortiz

Col(s) Nicole Schatz

Col(s) Jason Stack

Col(s) Kevin Summers

Col(s) Dave Temple

Defensor Fortis

BRIAN A. FILLER, Colonel, USAF
Director of Security Forces

Air Force Announces the 12 Outstanding Airmen for 2024
Published July 24, 2024, Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, TX 

Air Force officials have selected the service’s top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2024.

An Air Force selection board at the Air Force’s Personnel Center considered 35 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Headquarters Air Force. The board selected the 12 Airmen based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements.

The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (alphabetically, by rank and command of assignment when selected) are:

Senior Master Sergeant Sarah E. Buckley, Pacific Air Forces

Senior Airman Jacob K. Cummings, Air Force Special Operations Command

Technical Sergeant Cory M. Green, 60 SFS, Travis AFB, CA, Air Mobility Command

Senior Airman Mariah L. Hayden, Air Force Materiel Command

Senior Airman Rachel M. Heath, Air Force Global Strike Command

Senior Airman LeAnne A. Jayoma, Air Force District of Washington

Senior Airman Mykhailo Khromiak, Air Education and Training Command

Technical Sergeant Jose Lucero IV, AFSFC Det3/Ops, Ft Bliss, TX, Air Force Reserve Command

Technical Sergeant Joseph M. Mazure, Air Combat Command

Master Sergeant Haley M. Rankin, Air National Guard

Technical Sergeant Geraldine C. Schwartz, United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa

Master Sergeant Genevieve M. Villela, Air Force Materiel Command

The winners are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon with the bronze service star device on the ribbon. They are also authorized to wear the OAY badge for one year from the date of formal presentation.

AFSFA comment: Congrats to all 12 and HOOAH to Defenders TSgts Green and Lucero!!!!

Air Force Names New Security Forces Director

Brig Gen(s) Brian A. Filler was announced as the 27th Director of Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection. He is the focal point for ensuring base defense, the physical security of Air Force nuclear assets and planning, and programming for more than 43,000 Active-Duty and Reserve Component members worldwide. He provides policy and oversight for protecting Air Force resources from terrorism, criminal acts, sabotage, and acts of war. Brig Gen(s) Filler also ensures that Defenders are trained, equipped and ready to support contingency and exercise plans in support of the Department of the Air Force’s Great Power Competition missions.

Brig Gen(s) Filler, who assumed the post on 15 July, said, “I look forward to serving with and representing the 43,000 Total Force Defenders worldwide. I will work tirelessly to serve Defenders on the ground standing watch around the globe.”

Prior to serving in this role, Brig Gen(s) Filler served as the Director, Air Force Colonels Management. In this role, he led the team coordinating personnel actions for over 4,000 Active Duty Colonels and Colonel selects for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services. He advised the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and senior leaders on assignments, retirements, professional education, and development opportunities, and implements force management policies, long range plans, force analysis and joint officer management.

Brig Gen(s) Filler graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1999. He previously commanded the 99th Ground Combat Training Squadron at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada and the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana where he also served as the Deputy Commander, 341st Security Forces Group. Additionally, he served as the Vice Commander, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. He completed staff tours as an Antiterrorism Officer at U.S. European Command, Chief, Nuclear Security Division on the Air Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Colonel Filler deployed to Qatar in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and supported Operation INHERENT RESOLVE from Turkey. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Filler was Commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Alconbury, UK.

“Defenders have an important role to play in Great Power Competition,” Brig Gen(s) Filler said. “I am confident we will rise to tomorrow’s challenges to support the greatest Air Force in the world.”