New wing commander selected

  • Published
  • By 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Chief of Air Force Reserve announced here the new commander for the 507th Air Refueling will be Col. Douglas E. Gullion. 

Gullion is currently the 507th Operations Group Commander and he will assume command of the wing during the 507th ARW change of command ceremony, April 2 at 10:00 a.m. in Hangar 1030. 

The 507th ARW consists of three subordinate groups and eleven squadrons employing over 1,100 citizen Airmen. This Air Force Reserve Command wing reports to Fourth Air Force and supports Air Mobility Command's airlift and air refueling requirements, United States Strategic Command's alert and emergency war order requirements as well as C-17, KC-135 and in the future, KC-46 training requirements at a geographically separated unit at Altus Air Force Base, Okla.

The wing operates and maintains eight KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft providing world-wide aerial refueling to U.S. and NATO aircraft in times of peace, war, and national emergency. The wing also provides peacetime administrative support functions for the 513th Air Control Group, the Reserve Command's only Airborne Warning and Control Systems organization, 35th Combat Communications Squadron and the 1st Aviation Standards Flight.

Gullion graduated from Purdue University in 1983 and went to work as an electrical engineer in the automotive electronics industry. He entered the Air Force Reserve in 1987 and received his commission through USAF Officer Training School. He continued on to Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Miss. Following pilot training, he attended KC-135 Combat Crew Training School at Castle AFB, Calif, and then joined the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind. as a traditional reservist. After flying combat support and combat missions during Operations DESERT SHIELD / DESERT STORM, he upgraded to Aircraft Commander and helped stand up the 74th Air Refueling Squadron at Grissom. While assigned to the 74th he upgraded to instructor pilot and served as a Flight Commander and senior flight examiner.

In 2005, Colonel Gullion became an Air Reserve Technician and served as the 74th ARS Chief Pilot, 434th ARW Chief of Safety, 72nd ARS Operations Officer / Squadron Commander and 434th OSS Commander. He has been mobilized and deployed six times for Operations DESERT SHIELD / DESERT STORM, ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He is a Command Pilot with over 6,500 military flying hours.