Col Adam M. Carlson is the Maintenance Group Commander of the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, Sioux City, Iowa. In this role, he is responsible for the manning, training and readiness of 244 Maintenance Group personnel. His leadership expertise provides quality aircraft and equipment maintenance, sortie generation and munitions required by the wing to produce over 900 sorties and 3,400 flight hours annually. In addition, he directs the one and only Air National Guard Paint Facility which has painted 650 aircraft and achieved $57.6 million in cost avoidance to the Air National Guard.
Col Carlson enlisted with the 185th Fighter Wing in December 1999. After completing Basic Military Training, Col Carlson graduated from Aircraft Fuel Systems technical training school in August 2000. While receiving a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Buena Vista University, he was a traditional guardsman, working as an Aircraft Fuels System Journeyman. In November 2003, Col Carlson was selected for a pilot position. He finished pilot training in November 2005. Later on, Col Carlson became an evaluator pilot and trained all aircrew members assigned to the 174th Air Refueling Squadron to ensure competency and proficiency in all facets of flying the KC-135 Stratotankers. Furthermore, he was hired as the Chief of Weapons and Tactics, who supervised the mission planning and execution of sorties carrying personnel, equipment, and fuel for Global Operations. He also was responsible for training and ensuring aircrew members were qualified in all aspects of the unit’s 801X mission. Next, Col Carlson was hired as the Aide-de-Camp to the Chief at the National Guard Bureau, where he oversaw the Chief’s schedule, liaised between 835 members of the Chief National Guard Bureau (CNGB) Staff and the Chief’s personal security, and coordinated traveling with the CNGB. While in this role, he supported 27 senior leader engagements at the White House, Capitol Hill, and Embassies. He returned to the 185th ARW as the Maintenance Squadron Commander, where he was responsible for the manning, training, and readiness of over 137 Maintenance Squadron personnel. His leadership expertise ensured quality aircraft, equipment maintenance, sortie generation, and munitions storage. Lieutenant Colonel Carlson then transitioned to Deputy Operations Group Commander where he was responsible for the manning, training, and readiness of over 130 operations group personnel, and ensuring combat-ready personnel met all Mobility Air Force and Combatant Commanders contingency and exercise operational needs.
In 2013, Col Carlson earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University, Alabama. In 2021, Col Carlson earned a Master’s degree in National Security Studies from National Defense University, D.C. In addition to his military career, he is a Senior Vice President of 1st Class Security, Inc in Sioux City, where he organizes, directs, and trains over 380 employees across nine states. Prior to assuming his current position, Col Carlson was a student at National War College, D.C.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems, Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa
2007 KC-135 Aircraft Commander Course, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.
2009 KC-135 Instructor Pilot Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
2013 Master of Business Administration, Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Ala.
2016 Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Advanced Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS 1. December 1999 - November 2003, Aircraft Fuel System Journeyman, 185th Fighter Wing, Iowa 2. November 2003 - November 2005, Pilot Trainee, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla. 3. November 2005 - March 2010, C Flight Member, 174th Air Refueling Squadron, Iowa 4. March 2010 - April 2015, Tactics Officer , 185th Operations Support Flight, Iowa 5. April 2015 - November 2016, Chief Of Weapons & Tactics, 185th Operations Support Squadron, Iowa 6. November 2016 - February 2017, Executive Officer, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md. 7. February 2017 - June 2018, Aide De Camp, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 8. June 2018 - March 2020, Maintenance Squadron Commander, 185th ARW, Iowa 9. March 2020 - August 2020, Deputy Operations Group Commander, 185th ARW, Iowa 10. August 2020 - June 2021, Student, National War College, Ft. McNair, D.C. 11. June 2021 - Present, Maintenance Group Commander, 185th ARW, Iowa
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: 3315.6
Aircraft Flown: KC-135R, KC-135T, KC-135E, T-37, T-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 Advanced Instrument School Graduate
2009 Combat Aircrew Tactics Course Graduate
2010 Signature Management Officer Course Graduate
2011 US Air Force Weapons Instructor Course Graduate
2015 STRATCOM Commanders Course (801X) Graduate
2016 Air National Guard Commanders Course Graduate
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Member, American Society for Industrial Security
Member, Sioux City Growth Organization
Student, Leadership Siouxland Program
Member, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 21, 2003
First Lieutenant Nov. 21, 2005
Captain Nov. 21, 2007
Major Nov. 27, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel April 25, 2017
Colonel Aug. 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2021)