Col Sonya L. Morrison is Wing Commander at 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, Sioux City, Iowa. She is responsible for providing all-weather, in-flight, aerial refueling for U.S. and partner national military aircraft, as well as Global Reach airlift for the rapid/precise projection of troops, equipment and supplies worldwide.
Col. Morrison commissioned in 1999 through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Northern Iowa. Following the completion of Rotary Wing Pilot Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, she was assigned to the 1-113th Cavalry as a Platoon Leader and then as Commander, E Troop, 1-113th Cavalry. During her tours she served full-time at Joint Forces Headquarters in various assignments. In 2005, she transferred to the Iowa Air National Guard and attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, and KC-135 training at Altus AFB and assigned to the 185th ARW, Sioux City, IA. She served full-time as the Executive Assistant to The Adjutant General, the Executive Officer for the Counterdrug Command, the OIC of the Midwest Counterdrug Training Center and the Commander of the Counterdrug Task Force (CDTF). Following CDTF she was assigned to JFHQ as the Military Personnel Management Officer for the Air National Guard while continuing to fly in the KC-135 with the 185th ARW. In 2013, Col Morrison accepted a position at the 132d WG and transitioned to the MQ-9 (Remotely Piloted Aircraft). Col Morrison served as the Chief of Current Operations, the Director of Operations and Detachment Commander to the mobilized force for the MQ-9 operational mission before moving to the Iowa Air National Guard Headquarters where she served as the Director of Staff from December 2017 to January 2020. As Director of Staff, she directed Iowa Air National Guard operations and ensured mission readiness of over 1,800 Air personnel serving our nation, state and communities for both homeland defense and federal missions. She returned to the 185th ARW as the Mission Support Group Commander in January 2020. Prior to her current position, the Colonel was Vice Wing Commander, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, IA.
Col Morrison is a Command Pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in fixed and rotary wing aircraft (OH-58, AH-64, KC-135 and MQ-9). She has flown over 900 combat hours in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL and Operation INHERANT RESOLVE.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor’s, Sociology, Non-profit Business Management, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
2003 Captain’s Career Course, Army Officer Advanced Course, Ft. Rucker, Ala.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master’s, Public Administration & Public Policy, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
2017 Commanders Development Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, MD
2018 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Joint Task Force Commanders Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1999-October 2000, STUDENT, Rotary Wing Pilot Training, Ft. Rucker
2. October 2000-January 2003, PLATOON LEADER, D Troop, 1-113th Cavalry, Waterloo, IA, & Budget Specialist, IA Army National Guard Recruiting Command, Camp Dodge, Iowa
3. January 2003-May 2005, COMMANDER, E Troop, 1-113th Cavalry, Waterloo, IA, & Executive Officer to the Recruiting/Retention Commander, IA Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa
4. May 2005-October 2005, EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, IA National Guard, Johnston, Iowa
5. October 2005-December 2006, STUDENT, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB
6. January 2007-December 2007, DEPUTY CHIEF OF SCHEDULING, 132d Fighter Wing, & Executive Officer to the Director of Staff, IA Air National Guard, Camp Dodge, Iowa
7. December 2007-July 2013, PILOT (Drill Status Guardsman), 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa
8. December 2007-November 2009, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Counterdrug Task Force, Camp Dodge, Iowa
9. November 2009-September 2010, OFFICER IN CHARGE, Midwest Counterdrug Training Center, Camp Dodge, Iowa
10. September 2010-September 2011, COMMANDER, Counterdrug Task Force, Camp Dodge, Iowa
11. February 2011-July 2013, AIR MILITARY PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT OFFICER, Camp Dodge, Iowa
12. July 2013-July 2014, CHIEF OF CURRENT OPERATIONS, 132d Wing, Des Moines, Iowa
13. July 2014-July 2018, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, 132d Wing, Des Moines, Iowa
14. Mar 2017-December 2017, COMMANDER, MQ-9 Squadron Detachment, 132d Wing, Des Moines, Iowa
15. July 2018-January 2020, DIRECTOR OF STAFF-AIR, Joint Forces Headquarters, Camp Dodge, Iowa
16. January 2020-June 2021, COMMANDER, 185th ARW Mission Support Group, Sioux City, Iowa
17. June 2021-August 2022, VICE WING COMMANDER, 185th ARW, Sioux City, Iowa
18. August 2022-Present, WING COMMANDER, 185th ARW, Sioux City, Iowa
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000
Aircraft flown: TH-67, OH-58, AH-64, T-6, T-38, KC-135, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal w/ three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with one silver and three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States
Iowa National Guard Officer’s Association
Iowa Air National Guard Officer’s Club
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 9, 1999
First Lieutenant May 9, 2001
Captain June 11, 2003
Major July 7, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel November 13, 2014
Colonel December 12, 2018
(CURRENT AS OF JANUARY 2023)