COL JOHN J. WALTERS, USAF Retired
Last assignment
Chief of Safety

Managed safety programs for the Commander, Twenty-First Air Force.  Principal advisor on safety program elements and processes.  Assessed the viability of safety programs for six active duty wings and four independent groups with subordinate units in 15 countries, as well as gained ANG and AFRC units.  Focal point within NAF for development and deployment of Operational Risk Management and Cockpit Resource Management concepts.  Sources and tasks members for safety investigation boards.  Managed nomination/approval process for all formal safety schools.  

Colonel Walters was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1975 as a graduate of the Colorado State University, USAF Reserve Officer Training Corps.  He is a command pilot with over 2600 hours of broad operational experience - Heavy Lift Rotary Wing, Strategic Airlift, Forward Air Control, and Arial Refueling -- in every theater.   His combat experience comes from Operation "JUST CAUSE" and ENDURING FREEDOM. His major staff experience includes serving as the Director of Joint Matters for the Air Component to USCINCSO; Chief of the Central American Plans Branch on the Air Staff; Military Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Readiness; Military Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs and Counterdrug Policy; and Strategic Planner at U.S. Atlantic Command.

Colonel Walters and his wife Kathleen have three children; Amanda, Greg, and Lindsay.

EDUCATION

1975 [Civ] Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Colorado State University, CO
1979 [Mil] Squadron Officers School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
1989 [Mil] Air Command and Staff College - by correspondence
1994 [Civ] Masters Degree in Public Administration, George Washington University, Washington,  D.C.
1994 [Mil] Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
1994 [Mil] Masters Degree in National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Washington,  D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS

- Jun 1976 - Mar 1977: Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training - Helicopter (TH-55/UH-1H), Det 1, 29th Air Base Group, Air Training Command, Fort Rucker, AL.
- Aug 1977 - Dec 1978: Combat Rescue Helicopter Pilot, Det. 14, 39th Air Rescue and Recovery Wing, Military Airlift Command, Naval Station Keflavík, Iceland.  Search and Rescue Liaison Officer to the Commander, Iceland Defense Force.
- Apr 1978 - Aug 1982: Combat Rescue Helicopter Pilot, 71st Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Military Airlift Command, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK.  Search and Rescue Liaison Officer to the Commander, Alaskan Air Command.
- Sep 1982 - Aug 1983: Air Staff Training Assignment (ASTRA), Plans and Programs Officer (Flight Safety), Office of the Air Force Inspector General, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- Sep 1983 - Aug 1984: Student Pilot (T-37/T-38), Fixed-Wing Conversion program, 82nd Student Squadron, Air Training Command, Williams Air Force Base, AZ.
- Jan 1985 - Apr 1987: Pilot (C-141), 18th Military Airlift Squadron, Military Airlift Command, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
- Extended Deployment Jul 1986 - Feb 1987: Deputy Commander, Air Force Forces, Joint Task Force - Bravo, (4402nd Support Squadron Provisional, Tactical Air Command), Palmerola (Soto Cano) Honduras.
- May 1987 - Dec 1989: Chief, Operations Plans Division, United States Southern Air Division, Tactical Air Command, Howard Air Force Base, Panama.  Attached Pilot (A/OA-37),  24th Tactical Air Support Squadron.
- Jan 1989 - Apr 1990: Director, Joint Matters, United States Southern Command Air Forces-Forward (830th Air Division).  Tactical Air Command, Albrook Air Force Station, Panama.
- May  1990 - Dec 1991: Chief, Central American Plans Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- Jan 1992 - Mar 1992: Military Assistant, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Readiness, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force Washington, D.C.
- Apr 1992 - Jul 1993: Military Assistant, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs and Counterdrug Policy, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- Aug 1993 - Jun 1994: Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
- Jul 1994 - Jun 1997: Strategic Planner and Special Assistant to the Director, U.S. Atlantic Command/J-5, Norfolk, VA.
- Jun 1997 - Jul 1999: Deputy Commander, Iceland Defense Force,  Keflavik, Iceland.
- Jul 1999 - Jul 2000: Pope AFB Chief, Air Mobility Rodeo 2000.
- Jul. 2000 - Mar 2001: Director of Staff and Inspector General, 21AF, McGuire AFB, NJ
- Extended deployment: May 2002 - Aug 2002: Commander 376 Expeditionary Support Group, Mannas Kyrgyzstan
- Apr 2001 - Apr 2004: Chief of Safety, 21AF, McGuire AFB, NJ

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating:  Command Pilot
Flight hours:  More than 2600 hours in Fixed-Wing Jet and Rotary-Wing Aircraft
Military Aircraft flown:  TH-55, UH-1B/H, HH/CH-3E, T-37, T-38, C-141B, A/OA-37, HH-60G, KC-10
 
Significant AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal

Awarded the 1981 MacKay Trophy

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
 
Second Lieutenant:  Jun 1975
First Lieutenant:   Dec 1977
Captain:   Dec 1979 
Major:   May 1985
Lieutenant Colonel: Mar 1990
Colonel:  May 1996
Retired: 1 April 2004 (yes, April Fools Day!)

(Final as of Apr 2004)