Col James G. Young is the Deputy Commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The 618 AOC is responsible for operational planning, scheduling, directing and assessing a fleet of approximately 1,100 aircraft in support of combat delivery and strategic airlift, air refueling, global air mobility support and aeromedical operations around the world.
Colonel Young is a native of South Carolina and earned his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1998. He completed pilot training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, and has extensive tactical airlift experience, including six operational flying assignments and numerous deployments to Southwest Asia in support of combat operations. Colonel Young has previously served at the Wing, Numbered Air Force, Major Command and Combatant Command levels. His preceding command was at the 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Colonel Young is a graduate of the USAF Weapon School and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. He is a command pilot with over 3,000 hours, primarily in the C-130.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science in History, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 US Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2009 Master of Arts in Airpower History, American Military University, Manassas, Va.
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Arts in Military Operation Arts and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.January 1999 – June 1999, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2.July 1999 – February 2000, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
3.March 2000 – August 2003, C-130 Copilot and Aircraft Commander, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
4.August 2003 – August 2006, Instructor Pilot, Executive Officer, USAF Weapons School, and Chief, Weapons andTactics, 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
5.August 2006 – June 2009, Chief, Standardization and Evaluations, 40th Airlift Squadron, and Chief Standardizationand Evaluations Pilot, 317th Airlift Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
6.July 2009 – June 2010, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7.July 2010 – June 2011, Student, School of Advance Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8.July 2011 – August 2013, Command Building Partnership Strategist and Chief, Operational and Adaptive PlansBranch (Africa), headquarters US Air Forces Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
9.September 2013 – May 2014, Director of Operations, 86th Operations Support Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
10.June 2014 – June 2015, Commander, 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
11.June 2015 – June 2016, Executive Officer to the Commander, Eighteenth Air Force12.July 2016 – June 2017, Command Strategist, United States Transportation Command13.June 2017 – August 2018, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, United States TransportationCommand14.August 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 86th Operations Group, Ramstein AB, Germany15.July 2020 – July 2022, Commander, 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas16.July 2022 – Present, Deputy Commander, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot Flight
Flight hours: More than 3,000
Aircraft flown: C-130E/H, C-130J, T-37 and T-44
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
(CURRENT AS OF AUGUST 2023)