Col. Douglas E. Foster serves as the Commander, 151st Wing, Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah. The 151st Wing operates 9 KC-135R aircraft performing aerial refueling, airlift, aeromedical evacuation missions supporting U.S. and coalition contingency operations and the U.S. Strategic Command deterrence mission. Additionally, His broad range of responsibilities include ensuring combat readiness and mission capability of the 151st Wing and three Air Combat Command units; the 151st Intelligence Reconnaissance Surveillance Group, the 109th Air Control Squadron and the 130th Engineering Installation Squadron, and the newly assigned KC-135 Test Detachment.
Col. Foster was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 2000 at the United States Air Force Academy and while serving as the Chief, Commander Support Staff at Spangdahlem Air Base (AB), Germany, he was selected to attend Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. After earning his wings, he has excelled in a variety of roles during his active duty and Air National Guard service. Col. Foster is a Weapons Officer and Evaluator Pilot with over 4,000 hours in the KC-135 and has flown 296 combat missions in support of various operations around the world. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the State Director of Operations, Joint Force Headquarters Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL by corespondence
2007 United States Air Force Advanced Instrument School, Tinker AFB, OK
2008 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
2009 Master of Science, Business Administration & Strategic Leadership, Touro University, Cypress, CA
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL by corespondence
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL by corespondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000 – June 2001, Chief, Commanders Support Staff, 52 Operations Support Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, GE
2. June 2001 – October 2002, T-37/T-1 Student Pilot, 47th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
3. October 2002 – February 2003, KC-135 Initial Qualification Training, 54th Training Squadron, Altus AFB, OK
4. February 2003 – December 2006, Aircrew Scheduler, Chief of Mobility, KC-135 Aircraft Commander/Instructor Pilot, 344th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, KS
5. December 2006 – December 2009, Chief of Upgrade Training, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Mission Employment Flight Commander, Intelligence Flight Commander, 351st Air Refueling Squadron/100th Operations Group, Royal Air Force Base, Mildenhall, U.K.
6. December 2009 – July 2013, Deputy Chief Operations Group Tactics, Assistant Operations Officer/KC-135 Evaluator Pilot, 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease ANGB, NH
7. July 2013 – September 2015, Deputy Branch Chief for Tanker Training, HQ AMC/A3 Directors Action Group, Strategy Advisor to HQ AMC/A3 /KC-135 Evaluator Pilot, HQ Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
8. September 2015 – September 2017, Chief of Wing Plans & Programs, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, 151st Air Refueling Wing, Roland R. Wright ANGB, Salt Lake City, UT
9. September 2017 – September 2018, Commander, 151 Operations Support Squadron /KC-135 Evaluator Pilot, 151st Air Refueling Wing, Roland R. Wright ANGB, Salt Lake City, UT
10. September 2018 – September 2019, 151 Director of Inspections / KC-135 Evaluator Pilot, 151st Air Refueling Wing Roland R. Wright ANGB, Salt Lake City, UT
11. September 2019 – May 2023, Commander, 151 Operations Group / KC-135 Evaluator Pilot, 151st Air Refueling Wing, Roland R. Wright ANGB, Salt Lake City, UT
12. May 2023 – Dec 2023, Director of Operations (A3), Joint Force Headquarters Utah, Roland R. Wright ANGB, Salt Lake City, UT
13. Dec 2023 – Present, Commander, 151 Wing, Roland R. Wright ANGB, Salt Lake City, UT
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 4000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, KC-135 R/T/RT
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with twelve oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 AMC Nominee for the McCay Trophy
2006 AMC Nominee for the Doolittle Trophy
2006 AMC Nominee for the Hoyt Award
2012 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Instructor Pilot of the Year
2013 ARSAG Founders Award Recipient
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major Mar 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Dec 5, 2015
Colonel Mar 25, 2021