COLONEL SARAH K. CLAPP
Col Sarah K. Clapp is the Deputy Commander of the 101st Air Refueling Wing, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor, Maine. She is responsible for supporting the full spectrum of command, discipline, training, and morale of an Air Refueling Wing equipped with ten KC-135 Stratotankers. She assists the Wing Commander in organizing, training, and equipping over 1100 Airmen stationed in Bangor and the Geographically Separated Unit in South Portland, Maine to project Air Refueling, Combat Communications, and Engineering capabilities globally in support of National Security Objectives.
Col Clapp is a 2006 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. She was competitively selected into an accelerated Air Force Institute of Technology program, earning an advanced degree from Connecticut College in Social Psychology. She completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi with follow-on assignments to the 344th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kansas and the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan flying the KC-135 Stratotanker. As a KC-135 Instructor Pilot, Col Clapp was selected for Air Mobility Command’s Phoenix Reach program and transitioned to flying C-17s at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. In 2017, Col Clapp joined the Maine Air National Guard where she transitioned back to flying the KC-135 with the 132nd Air Refueling Squadron, Bangor, Maine. In 2021, she took command of the 101st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Prior to her current position, she served as the Deputy Commander for the 101st Mission Support Group.
Col Clapp is a Command Pilot with more than 3,100 hours in the T-6, T-1, C-17 and KC-135 aircraft, including over 1500 combat hours. She is a veteran of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’s SENTINEL.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2008 Master of Arts, Social Psychology, Connecticut College, New London
2012 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
2022 Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Shepard AFB, Texas
2023 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M. by correspondence
2023 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2006 – August 2007, AFIT Student, Connecticut College, New London
2. August 2007 – March 2009, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. March 2009 – October 2009, Student, KC-135 Initial Qualification Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
4. October 2009 – October 2012, Executive Officer, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, 344th ARS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
5. October 2012 – October 2013, Flight Commander, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, 909th ARS, Kadena AB, Japan
6. October 2013 – September 2015, Executive Officer, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, 18th Operations Group, Kadena AB, Japan
7. September 2015 – February 2016, Student, C-17A Aircraft Commander Initial Qualification Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
8. February 2016 – November 2017, Assistant Director of Operations and C-17A Aircraft Commander, 6th AS, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
9. November 2017 – October 2021, KC-135R/T Aircraft Commander, 132nd ARS, Bangor, Maine
10. October 2021 – April 2024, Commander, 101st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, Bangor, Maine
11. April 2024 – November 2024, Deputy Commander, 101st Mission Support Group, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, Bangor, Maine
12. November 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 101st Air Refueling Wing, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, Bangor, Maine
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,100 hours, including more than 1500 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-1, KC-135, and C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with 7 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
PUBLICATIONS
Chrisler, Joan & Clapp, Sarah. “When the Boss is a Woman.” The Psychology of Women at Work: Challenges and Solutions for our Female Workforce, edited by M.A. Paludi, Praeger, 2008, p. 39-65.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
The National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2006
First Lieutenant May 31, 2008
Captain May 31, 2010
Major May 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2021
Colonel September 30, 2024
(Current as of March 2025)