Brig. Gen. Melissa A. Coburn is the Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. 22nd Air Force has command supervision of the Air Force Reserve’s tactical air mobility operations and other vital mission sets to include distinguished visitor airlift, undergraduate pilot training, flight test operations and a highly mobile civil engineering response force. With more than 12,000 Reserve Airmen and 64 unit-equipped aircraft, 22nd Air Force contributes daily to the Air Force’s worldwide operational mission. Reserve aircrews within 22nd Air Force accomplish a variety of C-130 Hercules missions, to include aerial spray, fire suppression, weather reconnaissance, tactical airlift and airdrop and aeromedical evacuation.
Brig. Gen. Coburn was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992, and served 11 years on active duty, including a remote assignment to the Republic of Korea. While on active duty, she flew as a lead airdrop instructor in the C-141B Starlifter, and as an evaluator pilot in the C-12J Huron. She transitioned to the Air Force Reserve in February 2003. Brig. Gen. Coburn flew as a C-17 Globemaster III airdrop evaluator pilot and was the first Reservist to graduate from the C-17 Weapons Instructor Course in 2007.
Prior to her current position, Brig. Gen. Coburn was the Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy and Plans, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Brig. Gen. Coburn was the 452nd Wing Commander, March Air Reserve Base, California and Senior Executive Officer to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve/Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, Arlington, Virginia. She has more than 5,400 flying hours and 279 combat flying hours in support of operations in Hungary, Iraq and Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2003 Master of Science, Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Weapons School, C-17 Globemaster III, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2013 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2014 Master of Arts, Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
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ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1992–April 1993, Quality Improvement Officer, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. April 1993–April1994, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. July 1994–January 1999, Executive Officer/Current Operations Planner/Assistant Chief, Tactics, 13th Airlift Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
4. January 1999–February 2000, Operations Group Standardization/Evaluation Pilot, 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base, South Korea
5. February 2000–February 2003, Current Operations Cell Chief/Assistant Director of Operations, 6th AS, McGuire AFB, N.J.
6. February 2003–July 2007, Pilot Scheduler/Chief, Reserve Current Operations/Operations Group Executive Officer/Chief Squadron Training, 732nd AS, McGuire AFB, N.J.
7. July 2007–December 2007, Student, Weapons School, 57th Weapons Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
8. December 2007–February 2009, Chief, Tactics 732nd AS, McGuire AFB, N.J.
9. February 2009–June 2010, Deputy Commander, 514th Operations Support Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
10. June 2010–September 2010, Commander, 514th OSS, McGuire AFB, N.J.
11. September 2010–July 2013, Operations Officer, 701st AS, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
12. July 2013–June 2014, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. June 2014–August 2015, Executive Officer to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Executive Officer to the Commander Air Force Reserve Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. August 2015–January 2016, Deputy Director, Mobilization Utilization, Office of the Secretary of Defense, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. January 2016–August 2017, Director, Global Force Management and Mobilization Utilization, Office of the Secretary of Defense, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. August 2017–March 2019, Commander, 452nd Operations Group, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
17. March 2019–June 2021, Commander, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March ARB, Calif.
18. July 2021–March 2023, Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy and Plans, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colo.
19. April 2023–present, Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2015–January 2016, Deputy Director, Mobilization Utilization, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
2. January 2016–August 2017, Director, Global Force Management and Mobilization Utilization, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. July 2021–March 2023, Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy and Plans, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colo.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,400, including 279 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, C141B, C-12J, KC-135 and C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (pistol)
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1992
First Lieutenant May 27, 1994
Captain May 27, 1996
Major Jan. 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 14, 2008
Colonel June 20, 2014
Brigadier General Dec. 9, 2019
(Current as of April 2023)