Col Adam M. Carlson is Wing Commander at 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, Sioux City, Iowa. He 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.
[The following is to be updated]
Col Adam M. Carlson is the Director, National Guard Bureau Joint Action Control Office, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. As Director, he oversees the preparation, coordination and facilitation of National Guard Bureau participation in Department of Defense Senior Governance Forums. He supports the Chief, Vice Chief, and Joint Staff Directors in the formulation of official NGB positions on matters under consideration by the Department of Defense, National Security Council and Joint Chiefs of Staff. 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, 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. Next, Col Carlson served as the Executive Officer to Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center before moving over to be the Aide-de-Camp to the Chief at the National Guard Bureau. There 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. 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. Following his time as the Deputy Operations Group Commander, Col Carlson was a student at the National War College in D.C. Col Carlson transitioned to Maintenance Group Commander of the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, Sioux City, Iowa. In this role, he was responsible for the manning, training and readiness of 244 Maintenance Group personnel and eight KC-135 aircraft.
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. Prior to assuming his current position, Col Carlson was the Airpower Lead Researcher for the Military Warfare Experts Group. Assigned to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Strategy and Force Development, Col Carlson was part of a joint team tasked to identify key insights from the Russia-Ukraine war that shed light on the future character of warfare for the Department of Defense.
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.
2024 Leadership in Homeland Security, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
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 - Jan 2023, Maintenance Group Commander, 185th ARW, Iowa
12. Jan 2023 – July 2023, Ukraine Lessons Learned Team, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2023 – Present, Director, National Guard Bureau Joint Action Control Office, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS [OFFICER ONLY]
1. Jan 2024 – June 2024, Ukraine Lessons Learned Team, Office of Under Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, D.C., as a Colonel
2. July 2023 – Present, Director, NGB Joint Action Control Office, Pentagon, D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION [FLIGHT RATED ONLY]
Rating: Command 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 [MILITARY ONLY]
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 June 2024)