Col. Gary B. Symon is the commander of the 347th Rescue Group, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The 347th Rescue Group trains, organizes, and equips combat rescue forces to rapidly deploy worldwide in support of national security objectives and global personnel recovery and humanitarian relief operations. The group is comprised of four combat squadrons including Guardian Angel, HH-60, and HC-130 operators as well as dedicated rescue support totaling 416 personnel and 22 aircraft. He was previously assigned to the US Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay as the Defense Attache.
Col Gary Symon entered the USAF in 1999 after receiving his commission through Officer Training School. His operational assignments include duty as a C-130E, HC-130P, HC-130N, MC-130P and HC-130J instructor/evaluator navigator & combat systems officer. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School and has deployed multiple times, supporting operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.
He is married to the former Claudia Rubio and they have three children; Christopher, 22, Alex, 19 and Elena, 16.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Forida
1999 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2010 Master of Science in Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle University
2011 Air Command and Staff College, in residence, Argentina
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2020 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, in residence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1999 – March 2000, student, undergraduate navigator training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. March 2000 – August 2000, student, navigator mission training, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
3. September 2000 – January 2004, HC-130 evaluator navigator and tactics officer, 71 RQS, Moody AFB, Georgia
4. January 2004 – January 2006, Weapons Instructor Course Development Team, Headquarters AFSOC, Hurlburt Fld, Florida
5. January 2006 – January 2008, Flight Commander and Weapons Instructor Course Phase Manager, 14 WPS, Hurlburt Fld, Florida
6. January 2008 – December 2010, Chief of Weapons and Tactics and evaluator navigator, 79 RQS, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona
7. December 2010 – January 2012, Student, Escuela Superior de la Guerra Aerea, IDE, Buenos Aires Argentina
8. January 2012 – February 2014 Foreign Area Officer, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, 571 MSAS, Travis AFB, California
9. February 2014 – August 2014, student, Combat Systems Officer training, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
10. August 2014 – June 2016, Director of Operations, 71 RQS, Moody AFB, Georgia
11. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 71 RQS, Moody AFB, Georgia
12. June 2018 – June 2019, Country Director, SAF/IARA, Pentagon, Washington DC
13. July 2019 – May 2020, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
14. August 2020 – July 2023, Defense Attache, US Embassy, Montevideo, Uruguay.
15. July 2023 – Present, Commander, 347th RQG, Moody AFB, Georgia
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Devices
Iraq Campaign Medal with three Devices
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with two Devices
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service ribbon with Gold Border and five oak leaf clusters
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator / Combat Systems Operator
Flight hours: Approximately 2,580 hours and 290 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-1, C-130E, HC-130P, HC-130N, MC-130P, and HC-130J
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 02, 1999
First Lieutenant July 02, 2001
Captain July 02, 2003
Major May 01, 2009
Lt Col Nov 01, 2014
Colonel Oct 01, 2020
(Current as of July 2023)