Colonel John F. Benson serves as Commander, 403rd Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. As Commander, he leads more than 1,600 Reserve and civilian professionals in the first C-130J unit equipped wing in the Air Force. The wing’s mission is to train, equip and employ airlift forces in support of the nation’s interests. The 403rd Wing provides aeromedical evacuation, tactical airlift and airdrop, and agile combat support as well as operating the only weather reconnaissance mission in the Department of Defense.
Colonel Benson was commissioned in 2000 upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy. He is a command pilot with more than 4,400 hours in tanker airlift aircraft, including more than 1,450 combat hours. He flew missions in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and on the first day of IRAQI FREEDOM. He served over 12 years on active duty before joining the Air Force Reserve in 2012.
Colonel Benson was selected for numerous leadership opportunities including the prestigious PHOENIX REACH major weapon system cross flow program. He has served staff assignments at the major command and combatant command levels and commanded a mobilized KC-10 squadron. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Benson served as the Commander, 954th Reserve Support Squadron, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, United States Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In his civilian capacity, Colonel Benson is a commercial airline captain.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Economics, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2005 Master of Business Administration, Touro University International, summa cum laude
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, (correspondence)
2015 Joint Maritime Operations, Naval War College, Rhode Island
2016 Joint Combined Warfare School-Hybrid, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Air War College Seminar, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (correspondence)
2022 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2022 Master of Strategic Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2023 Latin America Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, DC
2023 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Air Force Expeditionary Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1996 – May 2000, Cadet, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. July 2000 – May 2001, Scheduling Officer (Awaiting Pilot Training), 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
3. June 2001 – June 2002, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
4. July 2002 – July 2006, KC-10 Instructor Aircraft Commander, Mission Controller, 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
5. July 2006 – June 2008, KC-10 Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Chief of Squadron Standardizations/Evaluations, 9th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
6. June 2008 – October 2009, KC-10 Senior Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Deputy Chief Standardizations/Evaluations, 60th Operations Group, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
7. October 2009 – April 2010, KC-10 Instructor Pilot, Pilot Scheduler, Formal Training Unit, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
8. April 2010 – August 2011, C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, 53rd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
9. August 2011 – February 2012, Wing Executive Officer, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
10. February 2012 – August 2012, C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, Director of Staff, 53rd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
11. August 2012 – October 2017, KC-10 Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Readiness Flight Commander then Assistant Chief Pilot, 70th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
12. October 2017 – September 2019, KC-10 Flight Examiner Aircraft Commander, Commander, 70th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
13. September 2019 – June 2021, J3 Director of Operations, previously Chief, Americas Branch, 954th Reserve Support Squadron, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, United States Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
14. July 2021 – May 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
15. July 2022 – September 2023, Commander, 954th Reserve Support Squadron, (TRANSCOM LNO to INDOPACOM from June-July 2023), Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, United States Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
16. September 2023 – Present, Commander, 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: Over 4,400
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1, KC-10A, C-130E/H
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze star
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant, May 31, 2002
Captain, May 31, 2004
Major, February 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel, February 1, 2017
Colonel, July 8, 2022
(Current as of September 2023)