Colonel Steven Slosek is the 109th Operations Group Commander at the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York. He commands 330 personnel across three Squadrons overseeing operations of the Department of Defense's only LC-130 “Skibird” aircraft and Arctic Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. He ensures aircrews are ready to employ unique polar tactics providing guaranteed access to the polar regions and expert enroute medical care to support global taskings to including the United States Antarctic Program and United States strategic interests in the Arctic.
Col Slosek entered the Air Force in May 2001 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Syracuse University and is currently an LC-130 Evaluator Navigator. Prior to his current position, he was an E8 JSTARS Instructor Navigator and Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training Instructor. During his career, he served as the 139th Airlift Squadron Commander, Air Expeditionary Group Commander Joint Task Forces Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Commander, and Deployed Commander for Greenland operations. Additionally, he served as the LC-130 Chief of Tactics, Chief of Flight Scheduling, Signature Management Officer, Unit Deployment Manager, and Antarctic Plans Officer. He was the lead U.S. planner for three Joint Arctic Multinational exercises; integrating Canadian, Danish, and U.S. arctic operations. Col. Slosek’s support of the global war on terrorism includes four deployments to Al Udeid AB, Qatar and one deployment to Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelors of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2002 Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Advance Tactics Aircrew Course, Rosecrans ANGB, St. Joseph, Mo.
2010 Masters of Arts, Business Administration, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2012 Terminal Instrument Procedures, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2013 OPSEC Program Manager Course, Randolph AFB, Texas
2015 Mobility Data Management Course, Rosecrans ANGB, St. Joseph, Mo.
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Combat Aircrew Tactics Studies/Mobility Combat Officers Course, Rosecrans ANGB, St. Joseph, Mo.
2020 Rapid Global Mobility 3, McGuire AFB, N.J.
2022 Leadership Development Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2001 – August 2002, Navigator Student, 562nd Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. August 2002 – October 2004, E8 JSTAR Mission Planner, 128th ACCS, Warner Robins AFB, Warner Robbins, Ga.
3. October 2004-December 2006, Chief of Scheduling, 128th ACCS, Warner Robins AFB, Warner Robbins, Ga.
4. December 2006 – November 2007, Navigator Instructor, 562nd Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
5. November 2007 – August 2008, C-130 Navigator Student, 189th Air Wing, Little Rock AFB, Littlerock, Ark.
6. August 2008 – June 2010, LC-130 Flight Scheduler, 139th Airlift Squadron, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
7. June 2010 – November 2012, Signature Management Officer, 109 Airlift Wing, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
8. November 2012 – April 2015, Antarctic Plans Officer, 109th Operations Support Squadron, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
9. April 2015 – September 2019, Chief of Tactics, 109th Operations Support Squadron, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
10. September 2019 – September 2023, 139th Airlift Squadron Commander, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
11. September 2023 – Current, 109th Operations Group Commander, Stratton ANGB, N.Y.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: more than 4,300
Aircraft flown: T-43, E8, C-130E, C-130H, LC-130H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak cluster Antarctic Service Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Air Force Association
National Guard Association of the United States Military Association of New York
Airlift Tanker Association Army War College Foundation
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major February 6, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel February 6, 2019
Colonel October 15, 2023
(Current as of December 2024)