Col. Richard F. McElhaney is the Deputy Commander, Eighteenth Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Eighteenth Air Force ensures readiness and sustainment of approximately 20,000 active duty, Air Force Reserve, and civilian Airmen across eight wings. Eighteenth Air Force supports AMC’s worldwide mission of providing rapid global mobility to America’s armed forces through airlift, airdrop, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and the global air mobility support system.
Col. McElhaney entered the Air Force in May 2000, having earned his commission as a Distinguished Graduate of the ROTC program at Mississippi State University. He performed flying duties at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, and Columbus AFB, Mississippi, served as the operations division chief, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, and the deputy executive assistant for the commander for U.S. Pacific Command.
Col. McElhaney also commanded the 374th Operations Support Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, and the 36th Contingency Response Group, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Prior to his current position, he was the commander, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
Col. McElhaney is a command pilot with more than 4,300 hours in the C-130E/H/J, UH-1N, C-12J, T-1, T-44, and T-37 with 190 combat missions in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts and Science, Economics, Mississippi State University, Miss.
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Top Third)
2008 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle University, Prescott, Ariz.
2014 Master of Military Operational Arts and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Master of Strategic Studies, Joint Warfighting Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2000 – June 2001, Assistant Chief of Wing Scheduling, 33rd Operations Support Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
2. June 2001 – March 2002, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. March 2002 – October 2002, Student, Joint Flying Training, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
4. October 2002 – September 2006, Central Scheduler and Executive Officer, C-130E/H Aircraft Commander, 50th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (September 2003 – February 2004, Tactics Officer and Copilot, 745th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar) (July 2004 – October 2004, Copilot, 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan) (January 2005 – March 2005, Copilot, 738th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait) (December 2005 – April 2006, Aircraft Commander, 386th Expeditionary Operations Group Detachment 1, Balad AB, Iraq)
5. September 2006 – February 2007, Student, T-1 Pilot Instructor Training, 99th Flight Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
6. February 2007 – April 2010, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, Commander’s Action Group Deputy Director, and T-1 Evaluator Pilot, 14th Operations Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
7. April 2010 – June 2013, Director of Staff and Chief, Operations Group Standards and Evaluations, C-130E/H Evaluator Pilot, 19th Operations Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (October 2010 – January 2011, Aircraft Commander and Assistant Director of Operations, 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq) (September 2011 – November 2011, Instructor Pilot and Assistant Director of Operations, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
8. June 2013 – June 2014, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2014 – June 2017, Deputy Chief and Chief, Current Operations Division, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
10. June 2017 – June 2019, Commander, 374th Operations Support Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
11. June 2019 – June 2021, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii
12. June 2021 – June 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. June 2022 – June 2024, Commander, 36th Contingency Response Group, Andersen AFB, Guam
14. July 2024 – July 2026, Commander, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
15. July 2026 – Present, Deputy Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 19-Jun 21 – Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a Lieutenant Colonel
2. Jun 22-Jun 24, Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force Presidential Support, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a Colonel
3. Dec 23-Jun 24, Deputy Dual Status Commander, Defense Support of Civil Authorities West, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,300
Aircraft flown: C-130E/H/J, UH-1N, C-12J, T-1, T-44, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Department of State Meritorious Honor Award
Japan Defense Cooperation Medal Second Class
2003 General James "Jimmy" Doolittle Trophy
(Current as of July 2026)