Colonel Sonya L. Morrison is the Wing Commander of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing. In this role, she is responsible for providing all-weather, in-flight, aerial refueling for U.S. and partner nation military aircraft, as well as Global Reach airlift for the rapid and precise projection of troops, equipment and supplies worldwide.
Colonel Morrison was commissioned in 1999 through the Army ROTC program at the University of Northern Iowa. Following the completion of rotary wing pilot training, she served as a Platoon Leader and then as a Cavalry Troop Commander. Morrison has served full time at Iowa Joint Forces Headquarters in various assignments. In 2005 she transferred to the Iowa Air National Guard and attended KC-135 Undergraduate Pilot Training. Morrison has served full-time as the Executive Assistant to The Adjutant General, the Executive Officer for the state Counterdrug Command, the Officer in charge of the Midwest Counterdrug Training Center and as the Commander of the Counterdrug Task Force. While assigned to Iowa JFHQ as the Military Personnel Management Officer she continued to fly the KC-135 with the 185th ARW.
Colonel Morrison is a Command Pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours in fixed and rotary wing aircraft. She has flown over 500 combat hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Freedom Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Non-profit Business Management, University of Northern Iowa
2003 Captain’s Career Course, Army Officer Advanced Course, Ft. Rucker, AL
2006 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Drake University
2017 Commanders Development Course
2018 Air War College, by correspondence
2019 Joint Commanders Training Course
2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1999-Oct 2000, Student, Rotary Wing Pilot Training, Ft. Rucker
2. Oct 2000-Jan 2003, Platoon Leader, D Troop, 1-113th Cavalry, Waterloo, IA, & Budget Specialist, IA Army National Guard Recruiting Command, Camp Dodge
3. Jan 2003-May 2005, Commander, E Troop, 1-113th Cavalry, Waterloo, IA, & Executive Officer to the Recruiting/Retention Commander, IA Army National Guard, Camp Dodge
4. May 2005-Oct 2005, Executive Officer to the Adjutant General, IA National Guard
5. Oct 2005-Dec 2006, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB
6. Jan 2007-Dec 2007, Deputy Chief of Scheduling, 132d FW, & Executive Officer to the Director of Staff, IA Air National Guard, Camp Dodge
7. Dec 2007-Jul 2013, Pilot (Drill Status Guardsman), 185th ARW, Sioux City, IA
8. Dec 2007-Nov 2009, Executive Officer, Counterdrug Task Force, Camp Dodge
9. Nov 2009-Sep 2010, Officer in Charge, Midwest Counterdrug Training Center, Camp Dodge
10. Sep 2010-Sep 2011, Commander, Counterdrug Task Force, Camp Dodge
11. Oct 2011-Jul 2013, Air Military Personnel Management Officer, Camp Dodge
12. Jul 2013-May 2014, Chief of Current Operations, 132d WG, Des Moines, IA
13. May 2014-Dec 2017, Director of Operations, 132d WG, Des Moines, IA
14. Mar 2017-Dec 2017, Commander, MQ-9 Squadron Detachment, 132d WG, Des Moines, IA
15. Dec 2017-Jan 2020, Director of Staff-Air, Joint Forces Headquarters, Camp Dodge
16. Jan 2020-June 2021, Commander, 185th ARW Mission Support Group, Sioux City, IA
17. June 2021-current, Vice Wing Commander, 185th ARW Mission Support Group, Sioux City, IA
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2,000
Aircraft flown: TH-67, OH-58, AH-64, T-6, T-38, KC-135, MQ-9
Pilot wings from: Fort Rucker, AL and Vance Air Force Base, OK
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
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 Jun 2021)