Colonel Stephen “Steve” Lanier is the Commander 315 Operations Group Joint Base Charleston SC. He is responsible for the command of six Squadrons, staff and equipment necessary to operate/deploy C-17A aircraft for worldwide contingencies on a daily basis. He leads over 500 personnel to train and maintain combat skills in flying, aeromedical evacuation, airlift control flight, life support, and survival training operations.
Colonel Lanier is a 1990 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and joined the Air Force Reserve in 2001 after nearly 11 years on active duty. He earned his Pilot wings as a Distinguished Graduate of UPT Class 91-14 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He has extensive experience as a KC-135R instructor/evaluator, KC-10A instructor, and T-34C instructor/ evaluator. He has deployed in support of multiple overseas contingencies including Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Lanier was Director of Safety for Air Force Reserve Command.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1997 Air Force Advanced Instrument School, Randolph AFB, Texas
2005 AMC Combat Aircrew Tactics Training Course, Air Mobility Warfare Center, N.J.
2007 AF Chief of Safety Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2007 AF Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2008 ORM Application and Integration Course, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
2016 Army War College, by correspondence
2016 Master's Degree, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2016 Safety & Accident Investigation Board President Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1990 – October 1991, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. October 1991 – September 1994, KC-10A Pilot, 9th Air Refueling Squadron, March AFB, Calif.
3. October 1994 – December 1997, KC-10A Instructor Pilot and Chief of Aircrew Training, 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
4. January 1998 – February 2001, T-34C Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Wing T-34C Standardization Officer,
Training Air Wing 5, Whiting Naval Air Station, Fla.
5. March 2001 – February 2007, KC-135R Instructor/Evaluator Pilot and Chief Pilot, 77th Air Refueling Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
6. March 2007 – February 2009, 916th Air Refueling Wing Chief of Safety, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
7. March 2009 – December 2011, KC-135R Instructor/Evaluator Pilot and Chief Pilot, 77th Air Refueling Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. (Deployed February to April 2011 as Commander, 90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey)
9. January 2012 – June 2014, Commander, 77th Air Refueling Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
10. July 2014 – May 2017, Director of Safety, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. June 2017 – Present, Commander, 315th Operations Group, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three devices
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with device
Navy Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven devices
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with device
Kosovo Campaign Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 5,500
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, KC-10A, C-12F, T-34C, KC-135R, C-17
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 1990
First Lieutenant May 30, 1992
Captain May 30, 1994
Major Oct 1, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Aug 14, 2008
Colonel 2 July, 2014
(Current as of June 2017)