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Col. John Janson Retires as 185th Commander

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kevin Heineman, PAO
08/04/07 --  Colonel John P. Janson was born at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE on March 18, 1952. He graduated in 1975 from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He is a graduate of Armed Forces Staff College and Air War College.

After graduating from the Academy and receiving his commission, Janson entered undergraduate pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas in October of 1975, graduating in September of 1976. He was selected to remain at Reese AFB as an instructor and attended T-37 flight instructor training at Randolph AFB, Texas. He flew as an instructor at Reese AFB until September of 1981.

He then joined the 185th Fighter Wing and attended A-7D training at Tucson, AZ. He flew as a squadron pilot until January 1988, after which he assumed the duties as the 185th Maintenance Squadron Commander. He transitioned to the F-16 in 1992.

His duties with the 185th Fighter Wing have included: Squadron Scheduler, Chief of Stan/Eval, Chief of the Command Post, Support Squadron Commander, and Maintenance Squadron Commander. He was Operations Group Commander from May 1996 to August 2001, when he was selected for his current position as Wing Commander.

Janson is a Command Pilot with over 4,000 hours of flying time in T-37, T-38, A-7, F-16 and KC-135 aircraft. Janson has participated in exercises and deployments in and outside the U.S. He served as the Detachment Commander for three overseas deployments, the most recent being to Al Jabar, Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch.

Janson and his wife Judy have two children, Kristina and Carolyn.

Col Janson's reflection of his career: The world has changed since September 11, 2001, and so has the 185th Air Refueling Wing. Never in the history of our nation has the National Guard been called to serve for this length of time in a war that challenges the freedoms we cherish. When my career started on active duty after graduating from the Air Force Academy, I understood little of "Citizen Airmen" and their contribution to the defense of our nation. After twenty-six years of being a member of the Air National Guard, I have grown to learn that "Integrity First," "Service before Self" and "Excellence in All We Do" is defined by the Citizen Soldier and Airmen serving our nation in the National Guard. I have been very fortunate to have had a career with the Air National Guard and the privilege to have served as the Commander of the 185th Air Refueling Wing.