Colonel ROBERT E. DONALDSON

Col Robert E. Donaldson is the Wing Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, New York. He provides leadership and management of the flying unit while organizing, training, and equipping more than 1,160 base personnel to support Department of Defense and New York National Guard requirements. The Wing is home to the world’s ten ski-equipped LC-130H aircraft operating from unprepared ice and snow surfaces, annually executing Operation DEEP FREEZE missions in the most austere polar regions of Antarctica and Greenland.

Col Donaldson commissioned in 1999 from the Academy of Military Science after serving eight years as an enlisted aircrew member with the US Air Force and the New York Air National Guard. As an LC-130H Navigator, he has accumulated nearly 2,000 flying hours supporting Operations DEEP FREEZE and RAVEN DEW in Antarctica and Greenland in addition to mobilizing in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Col Donaldson has deployed on multiple tours to McMurdo Station, Antarctica as the 13th Air Expeditionary Group Commander for United States Indo-Pacific Command’s Joint Task Force – Support Forces Antarctica. He has served at National Guard Bureau, and in various Air Force Component, Numbered Air Force, and Wing level rated, staff and command roles and responsibilities.

Prior to his current position, Col Donaldson was the Deputy Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing. As Deputy Commander, he served as the principal advisor to the Wing Commander readying the Wing in support of critical federal and state mission sets.

EDUCATION
1991 Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
1991 Enlisted Aircrew Undergraduate Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1994 Medical Service Apprenticeship School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1995 Airman Leadership School, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
1996 Associate of Science Degree, Math-Science, Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, N.Y.
1998 Bachelor of Science Degree, Civil Engineering, Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.
1999 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2001 Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2004 Juris Doctor Degree, Law, Albany Law School, Albany, N.Y.
2008 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2011 Naval Command and Staff College, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2011 Master of Arts Degree, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2012 School of Advanced Air & Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master of Philosophy Degree, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2014 Joint Capabilities Requirements Manager Course, Ft. Eustis, Va.
2015 Contingency Wartime Planning Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Civil Engineer Officer Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2017 Navigator Requalification Course, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
2018 Commander Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Safety & Accident Investigation Board President Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Joint and Combined Warfighting School – JPME II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2019 National Security Management Course – Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2019 Level IV Anti-Terrorism Executive Seminar, McLean, Va.
2020 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2022 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2023 Wing Command Team Course, Montgomery, Ala.
2024 Arctic Multi-Domain Legal Course, Ted Stevens Center, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK.


ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1991 – May 1992, Airborne Comm. Systems Operator, 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
2. May 1992 – February 1993, Airborne Comm. Systems Operator, 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
3. February 1993 – August 1996, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician, 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
4. August 1996 – August 1999, AET Instructor, 139th AES, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
5. August 1999 – March 2001, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
6. March 2001 – July 2008, LC-130H Navigator, Unit Deployment Manager, 139th Airlift Squadron, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
7. July 2008 – July 2010, LC-130H Senior Navigator, Supervisor of Flying, 139th AS, Stratton ANGB, NY
8. February 2009 – November 2009, C-130 Functional Area Manager and Scheduler, NGB/A3XO, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md. (June 2009 – August 2009, C-130 Airlift Scheduler, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
9. February 2010 – July 2010, Community Manager, 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton ANGB, NY
10. July 2010 - June 2011, Student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
11. June 2011 – June 2012, Student, School of Advanced Air & Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. June 2012 – August 2014, Director of the Commander’s Action Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
13. August 2014 – July 2015, Chief-Global Force Management & Mobilizations Branch (NGB/A3XW), Joint Base Andrews, Md.
14. July 2015 – September 2016, 109th Civil Engineer Squadron Commander & Base Civil Engineer, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
15. September 2016 – May 2019, Commander, 109th Maintenance Group, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
16. May 2019 – December 2020, Director of Staff – Air, New York Joint Force Headquarters, Latham, N.Y.
17. December 2020 – March 2024, Deputy Commander, 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.

18. March 2024- Present, Commander, 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator Flight hours: Over 2,000
Aircraft Flown: EC-135A, EC-135C, EC-135G, EC-135L, E4B, C-130E, C-130H, LC-130H

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Air & Space Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1995 John Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
1998 Ashraf M. Ghaly Geotechnical Prize, Excellence in Civil Engineering, Union College
2001 Commander’s Trophy, Top Graduate in Joint Undergrad. Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas 2001 Ira J. Adler Award, Top Graduate in Air Force Flying Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2004 Gabrielli Oral Advocacy Award, Albany Law School, Albany, N.Y.