Colonel John D. Poole is the Commander, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He leads more than 3,100 personnel who provide aeromedical evacuation, operational support airlift for high priority passengers, and ensures the nation’s global reach through air refueling. The 375th Air Mobility Wing also provides showcase support to 33 mission partners including United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and the Eighteenth Air Force, totaling more than 13,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, Department of Defense civilians, and contract personnel.
Colonel Poole earned his commission in 2000 as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Texas A&M University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and a command pilot with over 2,700 hours in the C-130 and C-21A. Colonel Poole has flown more than 1,100 combat hours and 225 combat missions over eight deployments in support of Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM, and INHERENT RESOLVE. He holds a PhD in Military Strategy and has served in staff positions at the Joint Staff, Air Staff, Combatant Command, Major Command, and Numbered Air Force levels. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Commander, 317th Operations Group, consisting of 400 personnel and 28 C-130J aircraft engaged in combat airlift operations worldwide.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Environmental Design, with honors, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2007 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Master of Arts in Military History, with honors, Norwich University, Northfield, VT
2008 Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, Distinguished Graduate, National War College, Washington, DC
2020 Doctor of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2001 – August 2001, Executive Officer, 27th Operations Group, Cannon AFB, NM
2. August 2001 – September 2002, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS
3. September 2002 – March 2003, Student, C-130 Formal Training Unit, Little Rock AFB, AR
4. March 2003 – June 2006, C-130 Pilot and Aircraft Commander, Executive Officer, Scheduler, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR
5. July 2006 – July 2009, C-130 Instructor Pilot, Chief of Tactics, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
6. July 2009 – July 2011, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, and C-130 Evaluator Pilot, 317th Operations Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, TX
7. July 2011 – July 2012, Chief, Combat Operations Division, Directorate of Air, Space & Information Operations (A3), Headquarters Eighteenth Air Force, Scott AFB, IL
8. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
9. July 2013 – June 2014, Student, School of Advanced Air & Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL
10. June 2014 – July 2015, Chief, Strategy Analysis Branch, Directorate of Strategy, Concepts, & Assessments, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans & Requirements (A5/8), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
11. July 2015 – May 2016, Airpower Strategist, Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Strategic Studies Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
12. May 2016 – May 2017, Commander, 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Ali al Salem AB, Kuwait
13. June 2017 – July 2018, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
14. July 2018 – June 2019, Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, DC
15. June 2019 – June 2020, Chief, Strategy Development Branch, Directorate of Strategy, Plans, & Policy (J5), Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
16. June 2020 – June 2021, U.S. Transportation Command Liaison Officer to U.S. Southern Command, Miami, FL
17. June 2021 – July 2023, Commander, 317th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, TX
18. July 2023 – Present, Commander, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB, IL
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,700 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1A, C-130E, C-130H1, C-130H3, C-130J, and C-21A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal