Brig. Gen. Corey A. Simmons is the Commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The 618 AOC (TACC) is responsible for operational planning, scheduling, directing, and assessing a fleet of approximately 1,100 aircraft, executing the air mobility mission, and providing command and control of strategic airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, global air mobility support, and presidential and senior leader air transport in support of national interests.
Brig. Gen. Simmons commissioned into the Air Force in 1998 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and earned a master’s degree in 2005 from The George Washington University. He is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and the Secretary of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program. Brig. Gen. Simmons is also a Harvard University National Defense Fellow.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Simmons was the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He optimized, synchronized, integrated, and prioritized staff activities to fulfill the commander’s vision and accomplish strategic goals and objectives. His efforts enabled the command to provide rapid global mobility and sustainment for America's armed forces as well as humanitarian assistance around the world. He is a command pilot with more than 3,300 hours in airlift and trainer aircraft.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics, Bellarmine University, Louisville, Ky.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Master of Arts, Organizational Management, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 SECDEF Executive Leadership Development Program, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 National Defense Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1998 – June 1999, Assistant Regional Director of Admissions, AFROTC Northeast Region Detachment 750, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pa.
2. June 1999 – July 2000, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 37th and 48th Training Squadrons, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
3. August 2000 – December 2000, Pilot Instructor School, 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
4. January 2001 – June 2003, T-1A Jayhawk Instructor Pilot, Executive Officer, Standardization and Evaluation Pilot, 48th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss.
5. July 2003 – May 2005, Student, Air Force Intern Program, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Assignments included JCS/J6, HAF/A5, and OSD P&R Military Personnel Policy
6. June 2005 – September 2005, C-17 Aircraft Commander Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
7. October 2005 – June 2009, Assistant Operations Officer for Airlift, Director of Current Operations; C-17A Evaluator Aircraft Commander, 10th Airlift Squadron and 62d Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Wash. (July 2006 – November 2006, Assistant Operations Officer, 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; November 2007 – January 2008, Operations Officer, 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan; January 2008 – March 2008, C-17 DEEP FREEZE Instructor Aircraft Commander, Christchurch, New Zealand and McMurdo Station, Antarctica)
8. July 2009 – April 2010, Chief, Deployment-Distribution/Command and Control Branch, United States Transportation Command, Operations Directorate, Scott AFB, Ill.
9. April 2010 – June 2011, Aide de Camp to the Deputy Commander, USTRANSCOM, Scott AFB, Ill.
10. July 2011 – January 2012, Operations Officer, 10th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
11. January 2012 – July 2013, Commander, 62d Operations Support Squadron, JB Lewis-McChord, Wash. (March 2013 – June 2013, Commander, 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan)
12. July 2013 – April 2014, Chief, Strategic Airlift Programs, Headquarters Air Force, Directorate of Programs, Rapid Global Mobility Panel (HAF/A8PM), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. April 2014 – May 2015, Chief, Air Force Program Objective Memorandum Development, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller (SAF/FMPE), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. May 2015 – December 2015, Senior Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller (SAF/FM), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. December 2015 – June 2016, Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2016 – June 2017, National Defense Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, Cambridge, Mass.
17. June 2017 – July 2018, Vice Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
18. July 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, Okla.
19. July 2020 – July 2022, Commander, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.
20. August 2022 – May 2023, Chief of Staff, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
21. May 2023 – Present, Commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott AFB, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 3,300
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, T-1A, C-17A, KC-10A, C-5M
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2021 AMC General Jerome O’Malley Award
(Current as of December 2023)