Colonel Anthony M. Straw is the commander, 340th Flying Training Group, United States Air Force Reserve, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. He is responsible for the overall success of the Air Force Reserve Command’s Reserve Instructor Program, which trains and provides experienced instructor pilots, jump masters, and Basic Military Training instructors to Air Education and Training Command’s instructor force. Colonel Straw commands more than 800 military and civilian Airmen in seven squadrons, located at bases across the United States.
Prior to his current position, Col. Straw was assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma in August 2022. He served as the Director of Operations and T-38C Instructor Pilot. Eventually, he assumed command of the 5th FTS, overseeing the squadron’s flight training program that supported the 71st Operations Group.
In 2008, Col. Straw completed T-38C Pilot Instructor Training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and accepted an assignment to the 87th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. While assigned to Laughlin AFB, he deployed to Iraq where he served as the Battle Captain for the Joint Operations Center for Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq J3/5 in 2009 and again in 2011 to Bagram Air Base as an MC-12W Mission Commander and Deputy Chief of Weapons and Tactics, where he eclipsed 1000 combat hours. In 2012, Col. Straw became a Pilot-Instructor Training Instructor in the T-38C at Randolph AFB, Texas, where he was the Chief of Safety, Assistant Director of Operations and a member of the 12th Flying Training Wing Innovation Team.
In September 2014, Col. Straw transferred his commission to the Air Force Reserve and took an assignment as a T-38C Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Instructor with the 96th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin AFB, Texas. In March 2016, he became a member of the 39th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas. While a member of the 39th FTS, he also worked as the AETC A5 Subject Matter Expert for Pilot Instructor Training and Undergraduate Pilot Training working on the T-7A Acquisition. In 2020, Col. Straw accepted a roll on the United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa A3 Staff as Chief of the Crisis Action team and then as Chief of Combat Operations, overseeing Command and Control and Air Operations in Europe and Africa in the 603rd Air Operations Center.
Colonel Straw earned his commission in 2002 from the United States Air Force Academy and graduated from SUPT in April 2004 from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. He then attended B-1B Initial Flight Training at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, graduating in December 2005, and remained at Dyess for his first assignment in the 9th Bomb Squadron. In the 9th BS, he was a member of the Weapons and Tactics shop, flying as B-1 Co-Pilot and then Aircraft Commander.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Management, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2005 B-1B Initial Qualification Training, Dyess AFB, Texas
2008 T-38C Pilot Instructor Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2009 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 MC-12W Initial Qualification, Meridian Air National Guard Base, Miss.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, in correspondence
2015 Masters of Business Administration, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
2020 Air Operations Center Combat Operations Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2021 Air War College, in correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
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July 2002 – March 2003, Transition Officer, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
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March 2003 – October 2004, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
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October 2004 – October 2008, B-1B Pilot and Aircraft Commander, Weapons/Tactics Officer, 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
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October 2008 – September 2012, T-38C Instructor Pilot, Chief of Training, Flight Commander and Check Pilot, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
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October 2012 – September 2014, T-38C PIT Instructor, Chief of Safety, and Assistant Director of Operations, 560th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
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September 2014 – March 2016, Traditional Reservist T-38C SUPT Instructor Pilot, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
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March 2016-August 2022, Traditional Reservist T-38 Pilot Instructor Training (PIT) Instructor, AETC A5XR PIT/ JSUPT Subject Matter Expert for the T-7A Program, 39th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
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August 2022 – December 2022, Director of Operations and T-38 Pilot Training Instructor, 5th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
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December 2022 – 29 June 2024, Commander and T-38 Pilot Training Instructor, 5th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla. and 19th Air Force A3F Action Officer, JBSA-Randolph Texas
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30 June – present, Commander, 340th Flying Training Group, JBSA-Randolph Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 4500 hours, over 1,000 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38C, B-1B, C-12, MC-12W, and A319/320/321
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Joint Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
2009 Squadron Officer School Commandants Leadership Award Nominee
Air Education and Training Command Master Instructor Certification
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 29 May 2002
First Lieutenant 29 May 2004
Captain 29 May 2006
Major 10 August 2012
Lieutenant Colonel 10 August 2019
Colonel 1 July 2024
(Current as of July 2024)