Colonel David A. Owens, Jr. is commander of the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md. In this role he is responsible for the training and readiness of more than 1,300 assigned wing personnel in 20 units employing eight KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft. The 459th supports Air Mobility Command's worldwide air refueling mission meeting the air refueling needs of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine and select allied nations. In addition, members of the 459th Air Refueling Wing provide a broad cross-section of agile combat support and aeromedical evacuation capabilities to combatant commands in times of peace, war and national emergency, both within the United States and around the globe.
Colonel Owens entered the Air Force in 1988 after graduating from the University of Virginia and receiving his commission. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Okla., and then T-37 Pilot Instructor Training (PIT) at Randolph AFB, Texas in 1990. He began his first duty assignment as an instructor pilot flying the T-37 with the 7th Flying Training Squadron at Vance AFB, Okla., where he held positions in safety, standardization/evaluation, and assistant flight commander. In 1995, he commanded the Aerospace Physiology Flight of the 20th Aerospace Medicine and Dental Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C., before joining the Air Force Reserve.
In 1997, Colonel Owens joined the 701st Airlift Squadron, Air Force Reserve, Charleston AFB, S.C., as a traditional reservist flying the C-17. While assigned to the 701st Airlift Squadron, Colonel Owens held positions of instructor pilot, group life support officer and flight commander. He supported Operations Phoenix Scorpion and Allied Force, and was mobilized for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In 2007, Colonel Owens became an Air Reserve Technician when he joined the staff of Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command. While assigned to HQ AFRC, Colonel Owens served as the Command C-17 Evaluator Pilot, and was Chief Airlift/Tanker Training Branch. In 2010 Colonel Owens moved to March Air Reserve Base, Calif., to be the Operations Officer of the 729th Airlift Squadron, where his crews provided heavy combat airlift capability for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. From 2013 to 2016 Colonel Owens commanded the 445th Operations Group, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. In addition to heavy combat airlift, Colonel Owens' aircrews provided aeromedical evacuation capability to support Operations Enduring Freedom, Freedoms Sentinel, Inherent Resolve and United Assistance.
Colonel Owens is a command pilot with more than 6,000 military flying hours.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
1997 Squadron Officer School, correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2002 Air Command and Staff College, correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Science, Logistics Administration, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Ga.
2012 Air War College, non-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
January 1989 - June 1990, Student Pilot, Vance AFB, Okla.; T-37 PIT Randolph AFB, Texas
June 1990 - May 1995, T-37 Instructor Pilot, Vance AFB, Okla.
May 1995 - September 1997, Flight Commander, Aerospace Physiology Flight, Shaw AFB, S.C.
October 1997 - February 2007, C-17 Instructor Pilot/Flight Commander, Charleston AFB, S.C
February 2007 - July 2008, Command C-17 Evaluator Pilot, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
July 2008 - July 2010, Chief, AMC Gained Training and Tactics Branch, HQ AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
July 2010 - June 2013, Operations Officer, 729th Airlift Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
July 2013 - January 2016, Commander, 445th Operations Group, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
January 2016 - Present, Commander, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 6,000
Aircraft Flown: T-37, C-17, KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award with 3 oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 3 'M' devices
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 17, 1988
First Lieutenant September 17, 1990
Captain September 17, 1992
Major October 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2007
Colonel June 16, 2013
(Current as of October 2016)