Joseph M. Vanoni is the Commander of the 446th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He and his team ensure the readiness of approximately 1,600 Traditional Reservists, Air Reserve Technicians and Civilians to execute and support worldwide airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation operations. The 446th Airlift Wing operates and maintains the C-17A Globemaster III. Partnering with active-duty, Guard and civilian agencies, the 446th Airlift Wing provides support to Operation Deep Freeze, the National Science Foundation’s U.S. Antarctic Program.
Colonel Vanoni received his commission from Air Force ROTC Detachment 045, San Jose State University in 1998. Colonel Vanoni’s career includes a C-17A operational assignment at Charleston AFB, SC; C-17A instructor at the 57th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School and Operations Officer for the 6th Airlift Squadron, JBMDL, NJ. Additionally, he served on staff at U.S. Air Forces Central, Shaw AFB, SC, at the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Norfolk Naval Station, Norfolk, VA, and at Air Mobility Command Headquarters, Scott AFB, IL. Colonel Vanoni commanded the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and RESOLUTE SUPPORT in Afghanistan and the stand-up of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Iraq and Syria. He was also Commander of the 43d Air Mobility Operations Group, Pope Army Airfield, NC. Prior to his current position, Colonel Vanoni was the Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Art in Mathematics, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA.
2005 C-17 Weapons Instructor Course, USAF Mobility Weapons School, McGuire AFB, NJ.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2011 Master of Science in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2012 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2018 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J McNair,
Washington District of Columbia.
ASSIGNMENTS
- Jul 1998 – May 1999, At Detachment Delay Officer, Air Force ROTC Detachment 45, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
- May 1999 – Oct 2000, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, TX
- Oct 2000 – Jun 2002, Tactics Officer, 15th Airlift Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, SC.
- Jun 2002 – Oct 2003, Assistant Tactics Flight Commander, 16th Airlift Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, SC.
- Oct 2003 – Dec 2004, Instructor Pilot and Wing Tactics, Plans, and Programs Officer, 437th Operational Support Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, SC.
- Jan 2005 – Aug 2005, Student C-17 Weapons Instructor Course then Assistant Director of Operations, 16th Airlift Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, SC.
- Sep 2005 – Oct 2006, USAF Mobility Weapons School Executive Officer, USAF Mobility Weapons School, USAF Mobility Warfare Center, McGuire AFB, NJ.
- Oct 2006 – Jun 2008, Phase Manager, Assistant Director of Operations, and Chief Standardization and Evaluations, 57th Weapons Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ.
- Jun 2008 – Jun 2010, Global Force Management Branch Chief, U.S. Air Forces Central, Shaw AFB, SC.
- Jun 2010 – Jun 2011, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
- Jun 2011 – Jun 2012, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL.
- Jul 2012 – May 2014, Operations Officer, 6th Airlift Squadron, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, NJ.
- May 2014 – Jun 2015, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Operational Support Squadron, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
- Jun 2015 – Jul 2017, Mobility Plans Branch Chief of Training, Readiness, and Exercise Division Chief (J37), Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Norfolk Naval Station, VA.
- Jul 2017 – Jul 2018, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J McNair, Washington D.C.
- Jul 2018 – May 2020, Chief, C2/Expeditionary Operations Division then Chief, Crisis Plans & Operations Division, Air Mobility Command Headquarters, Scott AFB, IL.
- Jun 2020 – Jul 2022, Commander 43d Air Mobility Operations Group, Pope Army Airfield, NC.
- Jul 2022 – Mar 2023, Director of Operations, Logistics, Plans, and Analysis for the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ.
- Apr 2023 – July 2024, Deputy Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL.
- July 2024 – Present, Commander 446th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- Jun 2015 – Jul 2017, Mobility Plans Branch Chief and Training, Readiness, and Exercise Division Chief (J37), Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Norfolk Naval Station, VA, as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,800 including more than 475 combat hours
Aircraft flown: C-17A, T-1A and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 29, 1998
First Lieutenant June 29, 2000
Captain June 29, 2002
Major May 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2013
Colonel October 1, 2019
(Current as of September 2024)