Col. Aaron T. Gray is the Deputy Commander, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. He is responsible for organizing, training and equipping six groups and 30squadrons executing worldwide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; electromagnetic attack; and nuclear command, control and communications support. He is also responsible for support to more than 50 associate units, including U.S. Strategic Command, the 557th Weather Wing, and more than 45,000active-duty members, civilians, family members and retirees.
Col. Gray received his commission in 2002 as a graduate of the ROTC program at Brigham Young University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Economics. His primary weapons system is the RC-135, where he has deployed in support of Cobra Ball and Rivet Joint taskings worldwide. Prior to the RC-135, he was an instructor pilot at the EC-130H Compass Call Formal Training Unit. His previous responsibilities include serving as an expeditionary squadron commander and deputy division chief on the Joint Staff. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Gray was Chief, Reconnaissance Operations Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations, the Air Staff, Pentagon.
Col. Gray is a Command Pilot with more than 3,100 flying hours, including 1,600combat hours, in the RC-135S/U/V/W, EC-130H, T-44 & T-37.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning, College For Financial Planning, Denver, Colo.
2012 Air Command and Staff College by Correspondence
2014 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2020 Masters of National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.May 2002 - March 2004, Squadron Adjutant, 375th Operations Support Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.
2.March 2004 - September 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3.October 2004 - September 2005, T-44 and C-130 Qualification Courses, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and Little Rock AFB, Ar.
4.October 2005 - December 2009, Flight Commander, EC-130H Pilot and Group Executive Officer, 55th Electronic Combat Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5.December 2009 - October 2010, Flight Commander, Student Training and EC-130H Instructor Pilot, 42d Electronic Combat Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
6.October 2010 - October 2011, Deputy Director, Wing Commander’s Action Group, and RC-135 Pilot, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.
7.October 2011 - June 2013, Wing Executive Officer, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.
8.June 2013 - July 2014, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
9.July 2014 - July 2016, Chief, Air Force Tech ELINT Management Office, Twenty Fifth Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
10.July 2016 - May 2017, Student Pilot and Director of Staff, 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
11.May 2017 - May 2018, Commander, 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
12.June 2018 - June 2019, Director of Staff, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.
13.July 2019 - June 2020, Student, National War College, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington D.C.
14.July 2020 - June 2022, Branch Chief and Deputy Division Chief, Operations and Integrations Division, Deputy Directorate for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations, the Joint Staff, Pentagon.
15.July 2022 - June 2023, Chief, Reconnaissance Operations Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations, the Air Staff, Pentagon.
16.June 2023 - Present, Deputy Commander, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
(Current as of August 2023)