Col. Russell Reese is the Deputy Commander of the 23rd Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The 23rd Wing is home to the legendary “Flying Tigers” and consists of five groups with 21 squadrons comprised of more than 4,000 Airmen, more than 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 23rd Wing also provides combat search and rescue and personnel recovery capabilities through the employment of HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, HH-60W Jolly Green II aircraft, and Guardian Angel weapon systems. The wing has units at Moody AFB, Georgia and Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida.
Col. Reese earned his commission in May 2002 as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served in a variety of positions, including standing up the 354th Range Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska and deploying to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Southern Command. He is a command pilot with more than 2,700 hours in attack, fighter, and training aircraft, including combat sorties during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Reese was the Chief of the F-35 System Management Office at Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Physics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2002 Bachelor of Science, Mathematical Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2002–June 2003, Mathematics Instructor, U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colo.
2. June 2003–December 2004, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
3. December 2004–August 2005, Student, A-10A Basic Qualification Course, 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
4. August 2005–August 2006, Standardization/Evaluation Liaison Officer, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
5. August 2006–April 2009, Chief of Safety, 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (May 2008 – September 2008, Chief of Flight Safety, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
6. April 2009–June 2011, Flight Commander, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
7. June 2011–October 2011, Student, T-38C Pilot Instructor Training, 560th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
8. October 2011–December 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas (March 2013 – September 2013, Officer-in-charge, Joint Planning and Assistance Team, U.S. Security Cooperation Organization, Lima, Peru)
9. December 2014–February 2016, T-38C Standardization/Evaluation Branch Chief, 47th Operations Group, Laughlin AFB, Texas
10. February 2016–May 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 353rd Combat Training Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
11. May 2017–May 2019, Chief of Range Division, 353rd Combat Training Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
12. May 2019–May 2020, Commander, Detachment 4, 354th Operations Group, Eielson AFB, Alaska
13. May 2020–March 2021, Commander, 354th Range Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
14. March 2021–May 2021, Deputy Commander, 354th Operations Group, Eielson AFB, Alaska
15. June 2021–June 2023, Deputy Director of Operations, 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan
16. June 2023–June 2025, Chief of F-35 System Management Office, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
17. July 2025–Present, Deputy Commander, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2700 including 88 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-38A/C, A-10A/A+/C, F-16C/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
(Current as of July 2025)