Col. William D. Magee is the Commander of the 403rd Maintenance Group, 403rd Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. As Commander, he is responsible for more than 550 personnel who maintain 10 WC-130-J and 10 C-130-J aircraft. The group’s mission is to maintain fleet health in support of tactical airlift missions and the only Department of Defense aerial weather reconnaissance mission. The group also provides comprehensive logistical support to assigned units by analyzing requirements and estimating capabilities ensuring combat readiness.
He graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1994 and was commissioned through the Deserving Airman Program in May 2000 after 10 years of enlisted service in the Air Force Reserve and Louisiana Army National Guard.
Throughout his career he has held multiple positions at the unit level, to include Flight Officer in Charge, Maintenance Officer, and Maintenance Operations Officer. Magee deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Advanced Maintenance Munitions Officer School in 2008 and upon graduation served in multiple squadron commander roles, one of which resulted in the F-22 Raptor’s first use in combat, and deputy group commander roles. He most recently served as the Chief, Maintenance Management Branch, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., where he was responsible for the oversight of AFRC’s aircraft maintenance policies, analysis, training, and maintenance manpower supporting the command’s 365 aircraft and 15,500 aircraft maintenance technicians. Prior to his current assignment he served as the Deputy Commander of the 403rd Wing Maintenance Group.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, La.
2000 Academy of Military Science Course, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn
2000 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Maintenance Officer Intermediate Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2008 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2011 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2000 - July 2001, Officer in Charge, Munitions Flight, 917th Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
2. July 2001 - August 2003, Maintenance Officer, 445th Logistics Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (Deployed January 2003 - March 2003, Maintenance Officer in Charge, 744th Expeditionary Air Squadron, Rhein-Main Air Base (AB), Germany)
3. August 2003 - December 2006, Maintenance Operations Officer, 908th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Deployed February 2005 - May 2005, Maintenance Officer, 746th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 379 Expeditionary Air Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
4. December 2006 - December 2007, Operations Officer, 717th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
5. December 2007 - August 2008, Operations Officer, 917th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. August 2008 - February 2010, Commander, 917th Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. February 2010 - July 2010, Commander, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
8. July 2010 - March 2013, Deputy Commander for Maintenance, 44th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
9. February 2012 - August 2012, Deputy Commander, 325th Maintenance Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
10. March 2013 - July 2014, Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor, Program Integration Office, 44th Fighter Group, Det 2, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
11. July 2014 - July 2016, Commander, 44th Maintenance Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
12. July 2016 - December 2017, Commander, AF ROTC Detachment 310, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge La.
13. July 2020 - February 2021, Deputy Commander, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait
14. Mar 2018 - November 2021, Chief, Maintenance Management Branch, Headquarters AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. November 2021 - July 2022, Deputy Commander, 403rd Maintenance Group, Keesler AFB, Miss.
16. July 2022 - Present, Commander, 403rd Maintenance Group, Keesler AFB, Miss.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Outstanding Unit Award with 5 oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
22d Air Force, Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
Air Force Reserve Command, Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Military Officers Association of America (Life Member)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 5, 2000
First Lieutenant May 5, 2002
Captain May 5, 2004
Major May 9, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel Aug 21, 2014
Colonel April 1, 2022
(Current as of February 2024)