Colonel THOMAS S. WALTER

COLONEL THOMAS S. WALTER

Colonel Thomas S. Walter is Commander, 315th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Charleston S.C. The mission of the Maintenance Group is to oversee the training and readiness of 632 Reservists assigned to three diverse units--the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the Maintenance Squadron, and the Maintenance Operations Flight. He is also the civilian leader to 151 civil service employees. The group's goal is to maintain technical proficiency to augment active duty forces in any contingency supporting the 48 C-17 aircraft assigned. Col. Walter is responsible for ensuring that this capability is sustained in support of Team Charleston's global mission.

Airmen train and maintain proficiency in a variety of aircraft maintenance and support career fields including avionics, crew chief, eletro/environmental, fabrication, fuel systems, hydraulics, aerorepair, support equipment, isochronal inspection, aerospace ground equipment, munitions, quality assurance, plans & scheduling, maintenance operations center, maintenance training, resource advisor, career advisor, technical order distribution office and administration. 

Col. Walter enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1981 as an aircraft electrician and remained in that AFSC until receiving his commission in 1995 through the Academy of Military Science. He has held several positions in the aircraft and logistics fields at the squadron, group, major command and air staff levels to include multiple contingency operations.

Col. Walter enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1981 as an aircraft electrician and remained in that AFSC until receiving his commission in 1995 through the Academy of Military Science. He has held several positions in the aircraft and logistics fields at the squadron, group, major command and air staff levels to include multiple contingency operations.

EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill.
1997 Aircraft Maintenance Officers Course (AMOC), Sheppard AFB, Tx.
1998 Communications-Computer Systems Electrical Engineer Officer, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2004 AFRC Squadron Commanders' Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2011 Air Command and Staff College (OLMP), by correspondence
2011 Master's in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Univ, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Montgomery, Ala.
2015 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1982–October 1985, aircraft electrical systems specialist, 60th Avionics Maintenance Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
2. April 1986–August 1990, aircraft electrical systems specialist, 913th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
3. April 1993–September 1995, aircraft electrical/environmental specialist, 913th Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
4. Sept 1995–March 1997, OIC, Aircraft Generation Flight, 327th Airlift Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
5. April 1997–July 2000, Executive Officer, 913th Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
6. Aug 2000–April 2003, OIC, Accessories Flight, 913th Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
7. May 2003–February 2004, Maintenance Officer, 913th Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
8. Feb 2004–June 2005, Commander, 913th Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
9. June 2005–July 2007, Commander, 913th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove ARS, Pa.
10. July 2007–September 2008, Maintenance Officer, 916th Maintenance Operations Flight, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
11. Oct 2008–July 2009, Commander, 916th Maintenance Operations Flight, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
12. Aug 2009–November 2011, Commander, 916th Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
13. June 2010–August 2011, Chief, Airborne Branch, Head Quarters ACC, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
14. Dec 2011–April 2014, Deputy Group Commander, 440th Maintenance Group, Pope AFB, N.C.
15. April 2014–April 2016, IMA to the Director of Policy and Integration, Pentagon, D.C.
16. Oct 2014–September 2015 (MPA), AF/A8X Action Officer Total Force-Continuum Office, Pentagon D.C.
17. April 2016–Oct 2016, AF/A4LM Chief, Logistics Initiatives Branch, Pentagon D.C.

18. Nov 2016–April 2018, Deputy Commander, Maintenance, 477th Fighter Group, JBER, Alaska
19. April 2018--Present, Commander, 315th Maintenance Group, JBC, S.C.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four devices
Air Force Commendation Medal with two devices
Air Force Achievement Medal with two devices
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and one device
AF Good Conduct Medal with one device
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two devices
Air Force Longevity Service Award with five devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two devices
Air Force Training Ribbon with one device

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September, 1995
First Lieutenant September, 1997
Captain September, 2000
Major May, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel August, 2012
Colonel June 2017

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Reserve Officers’ Association, Lifetime Member
Airlift Tanker Association

Current as of April 2018

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