Colonel Paul Sheets is Commander of the 23d Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The 23d Wing is home to the legendary “Flying Tigers” and consists of five groups, with 21 squadrons comprised of more than 4,000 Airmen, over 700 civilian employees and 71 aircraft. The wing provides A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft for close air support, forward air control and combat support for combatant commander requirements worldwide. The 23d Wing also provides combat search and rescue and personnel recovery capabilities through the employment of HC-130J Combat King IIs, HH-60W Jolly Green IIs, and Guardian Angel weapon systems. The wing has units at Moody AFB, Georgia, and Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida.
Colonel Sheets earned his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 2000. He is a command pilot with more than 2,700 flight hours in the HH-60G, HH-60W, HC-130J, UH-1H and T-37. He has multiple combat deployments supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and Hurricane Katrina.
Prior to this assignment, Colonel Sheets was the Vice Commander of the 355th Wing, Davis- Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Davis-Monthan is one of the largest installations and flying operations in the U.S. Air Force, with five groups, 25 squadrons, 34 mission partners comprised of 46,000 personnel, 152 aircraft, and $51B in assets. The wing provides A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for close air support, forward air control, combat support, and medical forces for combatant commander requirements worldwide.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science (Biology), U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2007 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2007 Master's Degree (History), American Military University, Virginia
2008 Distinguished Graduate USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2012 Master's Degree (Military Operational Art and Science), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2018 Master's Degree (Strategic Studies), The United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000 – May 2001, Squadron Adjutant, 344th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kansas
2. May 2001 – November 2001, Student Pilot, 8th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
3. November 2001 – August 2002, Student Pilot, 23d Flying Training Squadron, Ft Rucker, Alabama
4. August 2002 – April 2003, HH-60G Student Pilot, 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
5. April 2003 – July 2006, Training Officer, 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
6. July 2006 – July 2008, Flight Commander, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia
7. July 2008 – December 2008, Student, Weapons Instructor Course, 34th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada
8. January 2009 – July 2009, Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander, 347th Operations Support Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia
9. July 2009 – August 2011, Chief of Group Weapons and Tactics, then Assistant Director of Operations,563d Operations Support Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
10. August 2011 – June 2012, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
11. June 2012 – July 2014, Military Assistant to Chief of Staff, Joint Warfare Center, NATO, Stavanger, Norway.
12. July 2014 – July 2015, Director of Operations, 563d Operations Support Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
13. July 2015 – July 2017, Commander, 55th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan, AFB, Arizona
14. September 2015 – February 2016, Commander, 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, 8 Main Jet Base, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
15. July 2017 – July 2018, Student, the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
16. July 2018 – June 2020, Chief, Special Operation and Personnel Recovery Branch, Headquarters United States AirForce, Operations Directorate, Pentagon, Virgnia
17. June 2020 – June 2021, Chief Strategy Division, 612th Air Operations Center, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
18. June 2021 – July 2023, Vice Wing Commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
19. July 2023 - Present, Wing Commander, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Georgia
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2,700
Aircraft flown: HH-60G, HH-60W, HC-130J, UH-1H and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with twelve oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 Winner of Major General Edward G. Lansdale Award for Joint Special Operations paper
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major March 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2015
Colonel Jan. 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2023)