Col Barbara J. Bartch is the Deputy Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, located at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio. The Wing is comprised of over 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 Bartch entered the Air National Guard in June 1990 and graduated basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in Sept. 1990. While enlisted, she was assigned to the 121st Resource Management Squadron, Rickenbacker Air National Guard, Ohio as an Administrative Specialist to the Wing Comptroller, and later as an Aerial Refueling Specialist in the 166th Air Refueling Squadron. She earned her commission in Nov. 1996 through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn. She went on to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, graduating Feb. 1998 and continues piloting the KC-135 Stratotanker. She has served as Chief of Wing Scheduling, Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Wing Chief of Safety, and 121st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander. Prior to her current assignment, the colonel served as the 121st Maintenance Group Commander.
Colonel Bartch has deployed as an aircrew member for operations NORTHERN WATCH, DELIBERATE FORGE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM SENTINEL, Pacific Air Forces Tanker Task Force – Andersen AFB, Guam, and NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Support – Geilenkirchen AB, Germany. She deployed as a staff officer for operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and INHERENT RESOLVE. Colonel Bartch was the Detachment Commander for SOUTHCOM in July 2008, and the Senior Director for the 603rd Air Operations Center, Ramstein AB, Germany in 2018. She is a Command Pilot with 85 combat and 19 combat support sorties, and over 4900 total aircrew flying hours.
EDUCATION
1990 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
1990 Information Management Specialist Course, Biloxi AFB, Miss.
1993 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
1995 KC-135 Inflight Air Refueling Specialist Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
1996 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson AFB, Tenn.
1998 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
1998 KC-135 Co-Pilot Initial Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
2001 KC-135 Aircraft Commander Upgrade, Altus AFB, Okla.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2006 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, Ariz.
2008 Advanced Instrument School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Military, Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Unit Victim Advocate Course, Columbus, Ohio
2013 Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Course, Arlington, Va.
2014 Air Reserve Command Chief of Safety Course, Savannah ANGB, Ga.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1990 – November 1994, Administrative Specialist, 121st Resource Management Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
2. November 1994 – October 1996, Inflight Aerial Refueling Specialist, 166th Air Refueling Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
3. February 1997 – February 1998, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. February 1998 – February 2015, KC-135 Pilot, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker, ANGB, Ohio
5. February 2015 – September 2020, Chief of Safety, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker, ANGB, Ohio
6. September 2020 – January 2022, Commander, 121st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
7. January 2022 – November 2023, Commander, 121st Maintenance Group, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
8. November 2023 – Present, Deputy Commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 4,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaves
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaves
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaves
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Ohio Commendation Medal
Ohio Special Service Ribbon
Honorary Chief’s Award, 121 Air Refueling Wing 2015
Ohio National Guard SARC of the Year Award 2016
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 21, 1996
First Lieutenant November 21, 1998
Captain January 04, 2001
Major June 22, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel June 22, 2012
Colonel December 21, 2022
(Current as of November 2024)