Colonel Steven C. Priest is the Deputy Wing Commander, 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C. He commands over 2,500 Reserve personnel who augment the Active Component Strategic Airlift, Airdrop, and Aeromedical Evacuation forces in both peacetime and contingency operations. These missions support worldwide combat operations and humanitarian relief efforts as directed by the Department of Defense.
Colonel Priest entered the Air Force in 1996 as a graduate of Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He is a dual-rated aviator serving initially as an Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer and currently as a Command Pilot while deploying in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM in addition to supporting NOBLE EAGLE and START 2 treaty verification flights worldwide. He has a broad background in reconnaissance operations and State Department support missions through the RIVET JOINT, CONSTANT PHOENIX, COBRA BALL and OPEN SKIES programs. In addition, Colonel Priest supported Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Developmental and Operational Test programs within the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC).
In addition to his Reserve duties, Colonel Priest works as a civilian Flight Test Engineer in Fort Worth, Texas.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art/Illustration, California State University Northridge, Northridge, Calif.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Advanced Instrument School, Air Force Flight Standards Agency, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence.
2009 Master of Science in Aviation and Aerospace Safety Systems, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2011 Fundamentals of Test and Evaluation, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2011 Fundamentals of Systems Planning Research, Development and Engineering, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2011 Fundamentals of Systems Acquisition Management, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2013 Air Force Contingency Response Mission Orientation Leadership Course, Travis AFB, Calif.
2014 Air Mobility Command C2 Course, Scott AFB, Ill.
2014 Contingency Response Mission Planners Course, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2014 Mobile C3 Operations Course, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2016 Nuclear Leadership Core Course, Offutt AFB, Neb.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence.
2017 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2017 Joint and Combined Warfighting School–Hybrid (Formerly AJPME), Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2019 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (Formerly ICAF), Washington, D.C.
2022 Director of Mobility Forces (DIRMOBFOR) Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1996 - June 1997, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla.
2. July 1997 - November 1997, Student, Joint Aviation Electronic Warfare School, Corry Naval Technical Training Center, Pensacola, Fla.
3. January 1998 - September 2000, RC-135S Electronic Warfare Officer, Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer, Executive Officer and Stan/Eval Liaison Officer, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
4. October 2000 - October 2001, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas.
5. November 2001 - January 2006, E-3 Sentry pilot, Flight Commander and Chief of Contingency Flight Deck Operations, 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron and 552nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
6. February 2006 - November 2006, RC-135V Rivet Joint pilot, 343rd RS, Offutt AFB, Neb.
7. December 2006 - June 2010, OC/WC-135 pilot, Instructor Pilot, Chief of Pilot Training, Chief of Scheduling, Assistant Director of Operations, 45th RS and 55th OSS, Offutt AFB, Neb.
8. July 2010 - November 2011, Deputy Division Chief C2ISR Test Operations, Test Director, AFOTEC Det. 5, Edwards AFB, Calif.
9. December 2011 - July 2015, Operations Officer, Commander, 452nd Airlift Control Flight, March ARB, Calif.
10. August 2015 - December 2017, Commander, 336th Air Refueling Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
11. January 2018 - June 2018, Deputy Inspector General, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March ARB, Calif.
12. July 2018 - August 2021, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Deputy Commander of 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
13. September 2021 - Present, Deputy Wing Commander, 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Ratings: Command Pilot and Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer
Flight Hours: More than 3000 including 60 combat and combat support sorties
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1, E-3, RC-135S/V, OC-135B, WC-135, KC-135R and C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 9, 1996
First Lieutenant Aug. 9, 1998
Captain Aug. 9, 2000
Major Aug. 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 1, 2013
Colonel July 1, 2018
(Current as of April 2023)