Col Andrew P. Powers is the Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, 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, engineering, communications, security, sustainment, logistics, weather, and other combat support missions around the globe.
Col Powers 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. Throughout his career, he has held command and staff positions including 178th Security Forces Squadron Operations Officer, 178th Mission Support Group Executive Officer, National Guard Bureau Domestic Operations Directorate Joint Plans Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters – Ohio Director of Strategic Plans and Programs, 121st Air Refueling Wing Chief of Wing Plans, 121st Operations Support Squadron Commander, and 178th Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance Group Commander. He has been stationed in Ohio, Oklahoma, Kansas and Washington D.C. Before assuming his current duties, Col Powers served as Deputy Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing.
The colonel is a level II Joint Qualified Officer and Command Pilot who has logged more than 2,875 hours in KC-135R/T, T-38, and T-37 aircraft. He has deployed in support of 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 Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2005 Bachelor of Science, Liberal Studies, Excelsior College, Albany, N.Y.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Science, Supply Chain Management, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.
2014 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2024 Joint & Combined Warfighting School, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Va., hybrid
ASSIGNMENTS
- Febraury 2003 – August 2005, Operations Officer, 178th Security Forces Squadron, Springfield ANGB, Oh. (February 2004 – August 2005, Executive Officer, 178th Mission Support Group, Springfield ANGB, Oh.)
- August 2005 – October 2006, Pilot Trainee and Class 06-15 Senior Ranking Officer, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
- November 2006 – April 2007, Student, KC-135 Replacement Training Unit, Altus AFB, Okla.
- April 2007 – June 2010, KC-135 Pilot and Installation Antiterrorism/Force Protection Officer, 145th Air Refueling Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Oh.
- July 2010 – June 2013, Plans Officer and KC-135 Aircraft Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Oh. (December 2011 – June 2013, Joint Plans Officer, National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Arlington Hall Station, Va.)
- June 2013 – June 2014, Student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
- June 2014 – August 2019, Chief of Wing Plans and KC-135 Instructor Pilot, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Oh. (May 2016 – August 2017, Director of Strategic Plans and Programs, Ohio NG Joint Forces Headquarters, Columbus, Oh.)
- September 2019 – April 2022, Commander and Evaluator Pilot, 121st Operations Support Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Oh.
- May 2022 – May 2023, Commander, 178th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, Springfield ANGB, Oh.
- May 2023 – November 2023, Deputy Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Oh.
- November 2023 – Present, Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Oh.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- December 2011 – June 2013, Joint Plans Officer, National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Arlington Hall Station, Va., as a major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: Approximately 2,870
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-38C, KC-135R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 1 C device and 4 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
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1996 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Security Police Academy
1999 John L. Levitow Award and Academic Award, Airman Leadership School
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Air National Guard Academy of Military Science
2006 Leadership Award, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training
2010 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 121st Air Refueling Wing
2019 Robert L. Boggs Leadership Award, 121st Air Refueling Wing
2025 General & Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award, United States Air Force
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
USAF Command Pilot
Force Protection Badge Senior
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Air Force Association
Military Officers Association
National Guard Association of the United States
Ohio National Guard Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 21, 2003
First Lieutenant Feb. 21, 2005
Captain Feb. 21, 2007
Major July 18, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel May 5, 2016
Colonel Nov. 30, 2022
(Current as of April 2026)