Colonel Byron Newell is Commander of the 101st Air Refueling Wing, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor, Maine; home to eleven KC-135 Stratotankers. He is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping 1107 Airmen stationed in Bangor and the Geographically Seperated Unit (GSU) in South Portland, Maine. Together they provide the Air Refueling, Combat Communications, Engineering, and Multi Capable Airmen necessary to project and sustain the joint force globally in order to assure our friends and allies, deter potential adversaries, and if necessary fight and win our nations wars.
Col Newell was designated a Naval Aviator in 1996 after carrier qualifying aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. As a “Rawhide” he deployed with the U.S.S. Eisenhower Battle Group to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, operating Carrier On-Board Delivery (COD) detachments from locations throughout the Mediterranean, Horn of Africa, and the Middle East. In 2004, Col Newell joined the Missouri Air National Guard, frequently deploying as a pilot and tactician to Kyrgystan and Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He served as Associate Inspector for the Air Mobility Command Inspector General, and was often called upon to administer pyramid flight evaluations and ability to survive and operate (ATSO) inspections. Col Newell commanded the 180th Airlift Squadron and deployed in 2015 as commander of the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron; a composite squadron of ANG C-130s and active duty C-21 operational support aircraft; flying combat and combat support missions for Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOMS SENTINEL. He has deployed in support of Operations JOINT FORGE, CORONET OAK, Hurricane Katrina relief, and Hurricane Maria relief. Col Newell has commanded at the Group level in both Maintenance and Operations, and served as Commandant, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center (AATTC). Just prior to his current assignment, he served as Air National Guard Advisor to both the Air Mobility Command and United States Transportation Command front offices.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science-Oceanography, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
2000 Naval School of Aviation Safety, Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, CA 2003 Masters of Public Administration (MPA), Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
2005 Squadron Officer School (SOS), by correspondence 2008 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence 2012 Air War College (AWC), by correspondence 2013 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education (AJPME), Norfolk, VA – blended distance learning
2016 Accident Investigation Board (AIB) President’s Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, MD
2016 Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course (AAMOC), Shepard AFB, TX
2017 Senior Leaders Mission Generation Course (SLMGC), Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2018 Joint Air Component Coordination Element (JACCE), Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, MD
2019 Director of Mobility Forces (DM4), USAF Expeditionary Operations School, Det 1, Hurlburt Field, FL
2020 Reserve Component National Security Course (RCNSC), National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington DC
2020 Air Mobility Command Nuclear Leadership Course, Scott AFB, IL
2023 Arctic Regional Security Orientation Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1994 - August 1994, 44’ Vessel Officer in Charge / Sailing Instructor, USNA, Annapolis, MD 2. August 1994 - March 1995, Naval Aviation Schools Command, Pensacola, FL; Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) 3. March 1995 - December 1995, Training Squadrons Twenty-Seven & Thirty One (VT-27/VT-31), Corpus Christi, TX 4. December 1995 – October 1996, Training Squadron Four (VT-4), Pensacola, FL; multi-engine jet / carrier qualification
5. October 1996 - January 1998, Airborne Early Warning Squadron One-Two-Zero (VAW-120), Norfolk, VA; Fleet Replacement Pilot (FRS) training and carrier qualification C-2A Greyhound 6. January 1998 - August 2003, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Four-Zero (VRC-40), Norfolk, VA; Carrier Transport Plane Commander, Administrative Officer, Maintenance Quality Assurance Officer, Head Landing Signal Officer, Safety Department Head
6a. January 2003 – April 2003, Master Air Attack Planning (MAAP) Cell, Combined Air Operations Center, Prince Sultan AB 7. May 2004 - June 2006, 180th Airlift Squadron, St. Joseph, MO; C-130 Pilot-Drill Status Guardsman, Flight Safety Officer 8. June 2006 - June 2009, 139th Airlift Wing, Plans & Programs Officer (XP)
9. 2008-2016, Executive Director, Sound of Speed Air Show, Saint Joseph, MO
9a. 2010 Winner - Dick Schram Memorial Community Relations Award - International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) 10. June 2009 – January 2013, 139th Operations Group, Chief of Standardization & Evaluation 11. January 2013 - December 2013, 139th Operations Support Squadron, Chief of Current Operations 12. December 2013 – November 2015, Commander, 180th Airlift Squadron
12a. March 2015 – July 2015, Commander, 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
13. November 2015 – December 2017, Commander, 139th Maintenance Group
14. July 2017 – April 2018, Vice-Commandant, AATTC (Commander, 139AW Detachment 1)
15. April 2018 – February 2020, Commandant, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center
15a. August 2018 – May 2019, Dual Hatted, Commander, 139th Operations Group
16. February 2020 – March 2021, ANG Advisor to the Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence, & Nuclear Integration, AMC
17. April 2021 – September 2022, ANG Advisor to AMC Commander / Director of ANG Forces, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB
18. September 2022 – October 2023, ANG Advisor to U.S. Transportation Command
19. November 2023 – Present, Commander, 101st Air Refueling Wing, Bangor, Maine
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2003 – April 2003, Master Air Attack Planning (MAAP) Cell, Combined Air Operations Center, Prince Sultan AB
2. September 2022 – October 2023, ANG Advisor to U.S. Transportation Command
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Ratings: Command Pilot; Flight Hours: 4400+; Aircraft: T-34C, T-44, T-2C, T-1, E-2C, C-2A, C-130E, C-130H1/2/2.5/3, KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (4)
Air Medal (3)
Aerial Achievement Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2) Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award (2)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2)
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)
Navy ‘E’ Ribbon (3)
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge
Bronze Good Citizenship Medal – Sons of the American Revolution
Aviation Week & Space Technology Laurels 1994
Missouri & Louisiana Emergency Service Medals
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
Missouri National Guard Association, Life Member
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member
Military Officers Association of America, Life Member
United States Naval Institute, Life Member
Airlift / Tanker Association, Life Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Ensign May 25, 1994 Lieutenant Junior Grade December 21, 1995
Lieutenant February 28, 1998
Captain (Adjusted for break in service/equivalent grade to previous Navy rank) February 19, 1999 Major December 03, 2005 Lieutenant Colonel July 13, 2010
Colonel June 09, 2017
(Current as of November 2023)