Colonel Thomas D. Crimmins is the Commander, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock Air Force Base. The 189th Airlift Wing hosts the C-130H Formal Training Unit, graduating combat-ready aircrew in all crew positions from basic qualification to instructor, including the Enlisted Aircrew Academic School. He commands over 1100 Airmen across 4 Groups and 11 Squadrons providing combat ready Airmen for ongoing global military operations and responds to domestic emergencies for the Governor of Arkansas.
Colonel Crimmins received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1990. He is a veteran of several combat operations including Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and IRAQI FREEDOM in Southwest Asia, and JOINT GUARD, ENDEAVOR, and ALLIED FORCE in the Balkans. He has commanded a flying squadron in combat and in garrison, and as a Vice Wing Commander and Wing Commander. He also served as the U. S. Central Command Deputy Director of Mobility Forces, supporting Operations Resolute Support, Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. His staff assignments include tours at the Pentagon, White House, United States Military Training Mission-Saudi Arabia, and Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. Prior to his current assignment, the colonel was Chief, Air Mobility Division, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
EDUCATION
- 1990 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, USAFA, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- 1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
- 2004 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Arts, Air Command and Staff College
- 2009 National Defense Fellow (SDE), Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Washington D.C.
- 2012 Leadership Enhancement Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
- 2013 Security Cooperation Management Executive Course, Defense Institute for Security Assistance Management, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 1990 – November 1991, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas.
- November 1991 – March 1994, Graduate Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
- March 1994 – December 1994, Flight Commander and Acting Squadron Commander, 64th Services Squadron, Reese AFB, Texas.
- January 1995 – March 2000, Flight Commander, C-130H1 Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, and Evaluator Pilot, 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas.
- April 2000 – July 2003, Chief, Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation, FTU Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 314th Operations Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
- August 2003 – June 2004, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2004 – April 2006, CENTCOM Branch Chief and Country Director, Iraq and Jordan, Deputy Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- May 2006 – July 2008, Commander, 41st Airlift Squadron, and Director of Staff, 43d Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, N.C. (February 2007 – June 2007, Commander, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Southwest Asia)
- August 2008 – June 2009, National Defense Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Washington, D.C.
- June 2009 – June 2011, Policy Analyst, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, The White House, Washington, D.C., as a Lieutenant Colonel, Joint Duty Assignment
- June 2011 – June 2013, Vice Commander, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (May 2012 – September 2012, Deputy Director of Mobility Forces, AFCENT)
- June 2013 – June 2014, Chief, Joint Advisory Division, US Military Training Mission, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a Colonel, Joint Duty Assignment
- July 2014 — May 2017, Chief, Air Mobility Division, 613th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
- May 2017—Present, Commander, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2009 – June 2011, Policy Analyst, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, The White House, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel, Joint Duty Assignment
- June 2013 – June 2014, Chief, Joint Advisory Division, US Military Training Mission, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a Colonel, Joint Duty Assignment
FLIGHT INFORMATION
- Rating: Command Pilot
- Flight hours: More than 2,700
- Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, T-41, C-21, C-130E/H/J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Aerial Achievement Medal
- Air Force Commendation Medal
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
- Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
- Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
- National Defense Medal with service star
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Southwest Asia Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
- Second Lieutenant May 30, 1990
- First Lieutenant May 30, 1992
- Captain May 30, 1994
- Major June 1, 2001
- Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2006
- Colonel Aug. 1, 2011