PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Col. Jack H. Pittman, Jr., commander of the Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing was awarded the Legion of Merit award during his retirement ceremony March 6, 2016 here. The award citation lauds the 33-year Air Force veteran’s exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States while serving as the 302nd AW’s commander from January 2009 to March 2016.
“In this assignment, the leadership, exemplary foresight, and ceaseless efforts consistently demonstrated by Colonel Pittman resulted in the effectiveness and success of the 302nd Airlift Wing, and significant contributions to Air Force Reserve Command’s world-wide operations,” the award citation reads.
Pittman guided the 1,300-member Reserve wing through a multitude of changes and challenges during his time as the 302nd AW’s top leader. One of the most significant changes during Pittman’s tenure was the integration of an active duty C-130 flying squadron into the Reserve wing, which included the addition of more than 200 active duty personnel.
“This integration effort was lauded by Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command leadership as an Air Force benchmark,” reads the award citation.
In addition to successfully bringing an Active Duty presence into the Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd AW, the wing, under Pittman’s guidance also partnered with the Active Duty Airmen at Peterson AFB to form the Colorado Springs Regional Command Post. The CSRCP was named Air Force Space Command’s Command Post of the year for 2013. Pittman also oversaw the initial implementation of the Secretary of the Air Force’s three to one Force Support Squadron concept at Peterson which integrated the Active Duty and Reserve support functions into a single office in an effort to increase efficiency.
Outside of Colorado, Airmen from the 302nd AW supported world-wide operations under Pittman’s watch. These included several deployments of the wing’s C-130 aircraft and personnel to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Freedom’s Sentinel, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. In 2015 the wing deployed C-130s, aircrew, aircraft maintainers and aerial porters to Poland for the first time to train with their Polish counterparts. Pittman himself deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in 2014 to serve as the Senior Air Reserve Component Advisor for six months.
Colorado Springs witnessed two of the most significant wildland fires in its recent history in 2012 and 2013, prompting the call up of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s from the 302nd AW. The citation reads “Colonel Pittman’s efforts enabled the wing to rapidly respond to the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire and 2013 Black Forest Fire in record time, answering the nation’s call in less than twelve hours.”
To cap off his final full year of service to the wing, Pittman accepted the 2015 Lieutenant General James E. Sherrard III award on behalf of the 302nd AW at the 47th Annual Air Mobility Command and Airlift/Tanker Association Symposium in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 31. According to award information on the Airlift/Tanker Association web site, the Sherrard Award recognizes the Air Force Reserve Command's outstanding wing or group contributing to the overall success of the Mobility Air Force mission and the total force.
Pittman began his Air Force career in 1983 after earning his commission at Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He ends his career as a command pilot with more than 6,000 flight hours. He is among a handful of 302nd AW leaders to receive the Legion of Merit upon retirement from the Peterson-based Reserve wing.
According to the Air Force Personnel Center website, “The Legion of Merit is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.” It is seventh in the order of precedence of U.S. military awards.
The 302nd Airlift Wing is one of nine Air Force Reserve C-130 wings with an airdrop and airlift mission located throughout the nation and the only Air Force Reserve C-130 wing assigned the special Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) mission.