Col. Cassius T. Bentley III 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.
Colonel Bentley received his commission through the ROTC and graduated from the University of Kentucky and Centre College in 1998 via the 3-2 Dual Degree Engineering program. He has served in a variety of positions at the squadron, wing, major command and combatant command levels, to include wing command, and squadron command. He has deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, and INHERENT RESOLVE. He holds a membership at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, England, where he studied foreign relations with senior and general officers from more than 50 nations.
Prior to his current position, Colonel Bentley was the Deputy Director of Strategic Plans, Policy and Logistics for U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Illinois. The Directorate supports the shaping of the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise through strategic, campaign and operational planning. Additionally, it provides global support to combatant commanders and national authorities by supporting operations for deployment, employment, sustainment distribution, redeployment, retrograde, air refueling, global patient movement, and key operational and enabling capabilities. Colonel Bentley is a command pilot with more than 4,400 hours, in both airlift and tanker aircraft.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science in Physics, Centre College, Danville, Ky.
1998 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 C-17A Weapons School, McGuire AFB, N.J.
2009 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala, by correspondence
2010 Master of Science, Logistics Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Fort Dix, N.J.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala, by correspondence
2018 Royal College Defence Studies, London, England
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1998–July 1999, Casual Lieutenant, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
2. July 1999–July 2000, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. November 2000–January 2007, C-17A Evaluator Aircraft Commander, Combat Plans Flight Commander and Wing Standardization, C-17A Special Operations Low Level, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. January 2007–June 2007, Student, C-17A Weapons School, McGuire AFB, N.J.
5. June 2007–February 2008, C-17A Weapons Officer, Evaluator Pilot, 517th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson, Alaska
6. February 2008–May 2010, C-17A Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Airlift Operations and Assistant Director of Operations, 353rd Combat Training Squadron, Red-Flag, Alaska
7. May 2010–July 2011, Student, Advanced Study of Air Mobility, Fort Dix, N.J.
8. July 2011–July 2013, Chief Mission Branch, EUCOM Deployment & Distribution Operations Center, J4, US European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
9. July 2013–April 2014, Director of Operations, 16th Airlift Squadron, JB Charleston, S.C.
10. April 2014–October 2015, Commander, 15th Airlift Squadron, JB Charleston, S.C.
11. October 2015–April 2016, Deputy Operations Group Commander, JB Charleston, S.C.
12. April 2016–June 2017, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
13. July 2017–July 2018, Student, Royal College Defence Studies, London, England
14. July 2018–July 2020, Vice Commander, 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
15. July 2020–July 2022, Commander, 92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
16. August 2022–May 2024, Deputy Director of Strategic Plans, Policy and Logistics for U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
17. May 2024–Present, Commander, 618 Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott AFB, Ill.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 2011–Jul 2013, European Command Deployment & Distribution Operations Center Mission Branch Chief, US European Command (J4), Stuttgart, Germany
2. Aug 2022–May 2024, Deputy Director of Strategic Plans, Policy and Logistics for U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,400 hours
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1A, C-17A, and KC-135R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant, May 27, 2000
Captain, May 27, 2002
Major, February 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel, June 1, 2013
Colonel, May 1, 2018
(Current as of May 2024)