Colonel Douglas C. Jeffrey IV is the 507th Operations Group Commander at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The group operates eight KC-135R aircraft and manages reserve KC-46, C-17 and KC-135 flight training which amounts to 80% of Air Mobility Command’s airlift and air refueling requirements at a geographically separated unit at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Furthermore, the Group supports the United States Strategic Command’s alert and emergency war order.
Colonel Jeffrey is a native of Vernon, Texas; a graduate of Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, AL, and Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, OK. His initial operational assignment was at Dover AFB, DE as a C-5 instructor pilot. During this assignment, he participated in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; and was selected for AMC’s PHOENIX REACH program. Subsequently, he was qualified in the KC-135R, and flew combat missions in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM while assigned to Fairchild AFB, WA. After transferring to Headquarters, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL, Lt Col Jeffrey served as policy advisor and speech writer for the Air Mobility Commander on operational issues for 135,000 total force Airmen and 1,295 aircraft. He crafted 150 four-star speeches to Congress and 19 wings motivating 22,000 Airmen. Also, while at Scott AFB, he served as Chief of C-5 Aircrew Training.
In his most recent assignment, he provided flying instruction and evaluations for all KC-135 FTU pilot syllabi; and was a lead pilot on the only certified KC-135R Demonstration Team in the U.S. Air Force and was dual hatted as the 97 OG/CD and 507 OG/CD. In the civilian world he is a former Mayor, investor and entrepreneur.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science with a Minor in History, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
2002 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Advanced Instrument School, Tinker AFB, OK
2007 Squadron Officer's School in Residence and Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Master of Leadership and Business Ethics, Duquesne University, Pittsburg, PA
2012 Advanced Air Mobility Operations Course Scott, AFB
2012 USAID Joint Humanitarian Operations Course Scott, AFB
2012 Air Mobility Command Leadership Challenge Program, Scott, AFB
2012 Air Command and Staff College by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Air Force Reserve Command Squadron Commander’s Course, Robins AFB, GA
2019 Mobility Commanders Tactics Course, St. Joseph Air National Guard Base, MO
2020 Air War College by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2022 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Capital Region
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2002 - September 2002, Student, Officer Training School, Maxwell, AL
2. October 2002 - January 2004, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK
3. July 2004 - November 2007, Group Executive Officer, Chief Sq Executive Officer, Mission Control Officer, C-5 Co-Pilot/Aircraft Commander/Instructor Pilot, 436th Operations Group, 3nd Airlift Squadron & 9th Airlift Squadron Dover AFB, DE
4. April 2008 – April 2010, May 2009, Flight Commander, Deputy Chief Readiness, KC- 135 R/T Aircraft Commander/Instructor Pilot, 92nd Operations Group & 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, Fairchild AFB, WA5. April 2010 – August 2011, Policy Advisor; Traveling Speechwriter and Special Action Officer Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB6. August 2011 – July 2014, Chief C-5 Aircrew Training, Instructor Pilot C-5, Operations Directorate, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB
7. July 2014 – September 2018, Director of Staff, Traditional Reservist Flight Commander, KC-135 Evaluator/Instructor Pilot/Demo Team, 730th Air Mobility Training Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
8. Oct 2018 – Feb 2021, Commander, 730th Air Mobility Training Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
9. Mar 2021- Oct 2022, Deputy Commander, 97th & 507th Operations Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma detailed to Altus, AFB, Oklahoma
10. Oct 22- Present Commander, 507th Operations Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: 2100
Aircraft Flown: C-5A/B, KC-135R/T, T-1, T-37B, C-17, KC-46
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 President of the Student Body, Top 1/3 Grad & Outstanding Contributor at Squadron Officer School
2012 Greater St Louis Area Excellence in Government Award
2018-2020 Mayor of Vernon, Texas
2021 Opened Humble Texan Coffee Shop
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 27, 2002
First Lieutenant Sept. 27, 2004
Captain Sept. 27, 2006
Major Sept 27, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel August 31, 2018
Colonel July 24, 2023
(Current as of July 2023)