Colonel Andrew P. Powers is the Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing (ARW), Ohio Air National Guard, located at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio. As the Commander he is responsible for operations, training, and equipping of more than 1,300 personnel and 12 KC-135R aircraft as the Wing supports strategic deterrence and conventional air refueling, passenger and cargo transport, aeromedical evacuation, engineering, communications, security, sustainment, logistics, weather and other combat support missions around the globe.
Col Powers was born and raised in central Ohio and enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 1995 as a Security Forces specialist. He earned a commission through the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science in 2003. Before assuming his current duties, Col Powers served as Deputy Commander, 121 ARW. Throughout his career, he has held command and staff positions including 178th Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance Group Commander, 121st Operations Support Squadron Commander, 121 ARW Chief of Wing Plans, Joint Forces Headquarters – Ohio Director of Strategic Plans and Programs, National Guard Bureau Domestic Operations Directorate Joint Plans Officer, 178th Mission Support Group Executive Officer, and 178th Security Forces Squadron Operations Officer. He has been stationed in Ohio, Oklahoma, Kansas and Washington DC.
Col Powers is a Command Pilot and has logged more than 2,765 hours in KC-135R/T, T-38, and T-37 aircraft. He has participated in numerous operations including INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, UNIFIED PROTECTOR, NEW DAWN, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, NORTHERN WATCH, and the Northeast and Pacific Tanker Task Forces, and has flown 118 combat sorties and 15 combat support sorties.
EDUCATION
2003 Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, TN
2005 Bachelor of Science (Liberal Studies), Excelsior College, Albany, NY
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL (Correspondence)
2014 Master of Science (Supply Chain Management), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
2014 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS (In-residence)
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL (Correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Feb 03 – Feb 04 Operations Officer, 178th Security Forces Squadron, Springfield ANGB, OH
2. Feb 04 – Aug 05 Executive Officer, 178th Mission Support Group, Springfield ANGB, OH
3. Aug 05 – Oct 06 Student and Senior Ranking Officer, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Class 06-15, Vance AFB, OK
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
4. Nov 06 – Apr 07 Student, KC-135 Replacement Training, Altus AFB, OK
5. Apr 07 – Jun 10 KC-135R/T Pilot and Installation Antiterrorism/Force Protection Officer, 145th Air Refueling Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, OH
6. Jul 10 – Jun 13 KC-135R/T Aircraft Commander and Plans Officer, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, OH (Dec 11 – Jun 13, Joint Plans and Operations Officer, National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Arlington Hall Station, VA)
7. Jun 13 – Jun 14 Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
8. Jun 14 – Aug 19 KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot and Chief of Wing Plans, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, OH
9. Sep 19 – Apr 22 Commander and KC-135R/T Evaluator Pilot, 121st Operations Support Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, OH
10. May 22 – May 23 Commander, 178th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, Springfield ANGB, OH
11. May 23 – Nov 23 Deputy Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, OH
12. Nov 23 – Present Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, OH
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Aeronautical Rating: Command Pilot
Total Flight Hours: Approximately 2,765
Aircraft Flown: T-37B, T-38C, KC-135R/T
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 5 C devices and 9 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with 1 oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 2 oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 8 oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with 1 star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass and M device
PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS
Air Force Association
National Guard Association of the United States
Ohio National Guard Association
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Ohio Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Company Grade Officer of the Year, 121st Air Refueling Wing, 2010
Leadership Award, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 2006
Distinguished Graduate, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, 2003
John L. Levitow Award and Academic Award, Airman Leadership School, 1999
Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Security Police Academy, 1996
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 21 Feb 2003
First Lieutenant 21 Feb 2005
Captain 21 Feb 2007
Major 18 Jul 2011
Lieutenant Colonel 5 May 2016
Colonel 30 Nov 2022