Colonel Thomas Lankford is the Commander, 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. As Commander, Colonel Lankford leads Mobility Air Force operations on the installation for C-130J tactical airlift. He is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping 1,200 combat- ready personnel who operate, maintain, and sustain 28
C-130J aircraft.
Colonel Lankford is a native of Alabama and earned his commission from ROTC Detachment 5 at Auburn University. He completed pilot training at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas, and has extensive tactical airlift experience in Southwest Asia, Africa, and Central and South America flying combat and combat support missions. Colonel Lankford previously served at the Wing, Major Command, Headquarters Air Force, and Combatant Command levels.
His preceding command was the 314th Operations Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas which serves as the Formal Training Unit for the C-130J. Colonel Lankford is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School where he also served as an instructor. He is a command pilot with over 3,500 hours including over 700 combat hours.
EDUCATION:
1997 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
2004 United States Air Force Weapons School, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2009 Masters in Business Administration, Touro University International, CA
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL (Correspondence)
2011 Air Force Fellows, Joint Mobility Intern, Scott Air Force Base, IL
2012 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL (Correspondence)
2018 Masters in National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. October 1997 – May 1998, Protocol Officer, 93rdAir Control Wing, Robins Air Force Base, GA
2. May 1998 - December 1998, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, MS
3. January 1999 – August 1999, Student, Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, NAS Corpus Christi, TX
4. September 1999 - March 2000, Student, C-130 Initial Qualification Course, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
5. April 2000 – December 2003, Central Scheduler, Instructor Pilot, 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, TX
6. January 2004 – June 2004, Student United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
7. June 2004 – May 2006, Evaluator Pilot, and Weapons Officer, 61st Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
8. June 2006 – January 2008, Assistant Director of Operations and Evaluator Pilot, 29th Weapons Squadron, C-130 Weapons Instructor Course, Little Rock AFB, AR
9. January 2008 – June 2010, Assistant Director of Operations and Chief, Mobility Test Branch Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Command Detachment 5, Edwards Air Force Base, CA
10. July 2010 – June 2011 Student, Air Force Fellows, Joint Mobility Intern Program, Scott Air Force Base, IL
11. July 2011 – January 2013, Chief, Combat Tactics Branch, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, IL
12. May 2013 – February 2014, Chief, Wing Safety, 19thAirlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
13. February 2014 – December 2015, Commander, 41st Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR and Commander, 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
14. February 2016 – August 2016, Chief South Asia/Oceana Branch, Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington DC.
15. August 2016 – July 2017, Chief, Strategic Engagements, Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington DC
16. August 2017 – June 2018, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2018 – July 2020, Chief, Joint Operations Coordination Element, United States Forces Korea, Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, South Korea
18. July 2020 - June 2022, Commander, 314th Operations Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
19. July 2022 - Present, Commander, 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, TX
FLIGHT HISTORY:
Rating: Command Pilot Flight Hours: More than 3,500
Aircraft Flown: T-37, C-12, C-130E/H, & C-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two devices Iraqi Campaign Medal with one device
Korean Defense Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant, September 15, 1997
First Lieutenant, September 15, 1999
Captain, September 15, 2001
Major, May 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel, September 1, 2012
Colonel, 1 Dec 2018
(Current as of July 2020)