Colonel DeAnna K. Franks

Col. DeAnna K. Franks is the Commander of the 302nd Operations Group, 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. As commander, she is responsible for all matters pertaining to the operational readiness and effectiveness of a C-130 airlift squadron, an aeromedical evacuation squadron and an operations support squadron. The wing trains and employs the C-130 globally on medium range airlift, tactical airland and airdrop, Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System and aeromedical evacuation missions.

After commissioning in June 1999 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Col. Franks completed pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, and at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. She was then assigned to the 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, as a pilot in the C-130H3. During her initial assignment, she flew airlift missions in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and humanitarian missions. She then served as a T-37 and T-6 Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot at Vance AFB, Oklahoma.

In 2007, Col. Franks transitioned from active duty to the Air Force Reserve serving at Pope Field, North Carolina as a C-130H2 Aircraft Commander in the 95th Airlift Squadron. While at Pope, she also held the position of 440th Airlift Wing Director of Staff.  Following that assignment, she was an Air Officer Commanding at the U.S. Air Force Academy where she was responsible for motivating, training, and developing cadets into officers of character. Next, Col. Franks served as the Deputy Chief, Operator Engagement Talks Branch where she advised senior leadership on Air Force interests supporting multinational operations, interoperability and enhancing coalition warfighting with foreign militaries. Additionally, Col. Franks served as the Chief, Strategic Airlift and Operational Support Airlift Programming for the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon. Most recently, she served as the Commandant for the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Saint Joseph, Missouri. As the Commandant, Col. Franks oversaw the advanced tactical training for airlift aircrews from the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, United States Marine Corps and 16 allied nations.

EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science-Human Factors, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Master of Aeronautical Science Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Vance, Okla.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence, 2013 in residence credit
2013 Master of Science in Counseling and Leadership, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1999 - January 2001, T-37 Student Pilot, 37th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. January 2001 - July 2001, T-44 Student Pilot, VT-31 Squadron, Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas
3. July 2001 - January 2004, C-130H3 Aircraft Commander, 50th Airlift Flying Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
4. January 2004 - August 2007, Flight Commander, Executive Officer, T-37 and T-6 Flight Instructor/Evaluator, 8th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
5. August 2007 - May 2012, Wing Director of Staff, Assistant Flight Commander, C-130H2 Aircraft Commander, 440th Airlift Wing, Pope Field, N.C.
6. May 2012 - May 2013, Student, Intermediate Developmental Education, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colo.
7. May 2013 - July 2015, Commander, Cadet Squadron Seventeen and T-53 Instructor Pilot, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
8. August 2015 - December 2016, Deputy Chief, Operator Engagement Talks Branch, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. December 2016 – August 2018, Chief, Strategic Airlift and OSA Programming, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. August 2018 – January 2020, Vice Commandant, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, 139th Airlift Wing, St. Joseph, Mo.
11. January 2020 – September 2021, Commandant, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, 139th Airlift Wing, St. Joseph, Mo.
12. September 2021-Present, Commander, 302nd Operations Group, Peterson SFB, Colo.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,000 including more than 500 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-53, T-37, T-44, T-6, C-130E, C-130H2 and C-130H3

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATION
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and two devices
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

(Current as of February 2022)