Lt. Col. Melissa K. Jones is the acting 507th Maintenance Group Commander at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. She commands 255 airmen synchronizing efforts for three maintenance organizations and is responsible for the maintenance and sustainment of eight unit equipped KC-135R aircraft. She ensures operational readiness for strategic nuclear, conventional, contingency refueling, agile combat support missions and recent southern border support operations.
Lt. Col. Jones received her commission in 2002 through ROTC from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. She completed Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officers’ course in 2003, and since then has held a variety of maintenance positions to include Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, Operations Officer, Squadron Commander, Deputy Commander for Maintenance, MAJCOM Branch Chief, Deputy Group Commander and Maintenance Group Commander. Additionally, she has deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Prior to her current position, she was an Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the ACC/A4I Branch Chief at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. There she led the weapons systems teams responsible for sustainment and modification efforts for ACC’s most diverse portfolio including E-3, E-8, E-11, E/P-9, EC-130/37 and R/WC-135 aircraft. She coordinated CAF policies, procedures and directives pertinent to aircraft fleet health and oversight.
In her civilian capacity, she is the Deputy Director for the 567th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. She is responsible for B-1 Programmed Depot Maintenance and Structures Repair Line operations. As the Deputy Director, she coordinates with enterprise partners to include the System Program Office, Supply Chain, Air Force Global Strike Command to overcome supportability constraints and promote aircraft availability initiatives.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, The Citadel, Charleston, SC
2003 Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Course, Shephard Air Force Base, TX
2014 Master of Arts, Military Studies, American Military University
2014 Maintenance Officer’s Intermediate Course, Shephard Air Force Base, TX
2016 Graduate Certificate, Logistics Management, American Military University
2015 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2021 Air War College, by correspondence
2021 Inspector General’s Technical Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, NM
2023 Graduate Certification, Strategy Execution, Harvard Business School
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2002 – May 2003, Red AMU Specialist OIC, 552nd Maintenance Operations, Tinker AFB, OK
2. May 2003 – June 2004, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Unit OIC, 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
3. June 2004 – January 2005, Age Flight Commander, 552nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
4. January 2005 – September 2005, Avionics Flight Commander, 23rd Maintenance Squadron, Pope AFB, NC
5. September 2005 – January 2006, 74th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Pope AFB, NC
6. January 2006 – December 2011, Individual Ready Reserve, Buckley AFB, CO
7. December 2011 – June 2014, Maintenance Flight Commander, 512th Maintenance Squadron, Dover AFB, DE (Deployment: November 2013 – May 2014, Detachment Commander, 8th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Thumrait AB)
8. June 2014 – October 2015, Maintenance Operations Officer, 507th Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
9. October 2015 – May 2017, Maintenance Operations Officer, 507th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tinker AFB OK
10. May 2017 – October 2019, Commander, 507th Maintenance Squadron Commander, Tinker AFB, OK (Deployment: April 2018 – July 2018, Aircraft Maintenance Unit OIC, 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Incirlik AB)
11. October 2019 – November 2021, Deputy Commander for Maintenance, 513th Air Control Group, Tinker AFB, OK (Deployment: March 2021 – September 2021, Deputy Group Commander, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Al Dhafra AB)
12. November 2021 – January 2024, Branch Chief, ACC A4I, Langley AFB, VA
13. January 2024 – Present, Deputy Group Commander, 507th Maintenance Group, Tinker AFB, OK
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leak cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Small Arms Marksmanship Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 10, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major October 10, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel September 2, 2020
(Current as of May 2025)