Col. John E. Sebesta is the Commander for the 910th Operations Group, assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. The Operations Group provides aircraft, aircrews, support personnel, equipment and supplies for combat forces within an area of responsibility as directed and conducts aerial spray missions in response to Department of Defense taskings. Col. Sebesta is currently awaiting C-130H Senior Officers Course at Little Rock AFB, Ark.
Col. Sebesta was commissioned through the Professional Officer’s Course Early Release Program, earning his degree and commission through Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz. After completion of Undergraduate Pilot Training, Col. Sebesta began his early career as a pilot, though quickly upgrading to an Instructor Pilot in the C-5A/B.
Col. Sebesta is a command and evaluator pilot with more than 3,000 hours in the T-37, T-1, C-5A/B/C/M, C-21A and AN-32 aircraft. He has also been assigned as the Wing Chief of Flight Safety, Assistant Ops Officer, Chief of Squadron Safety and Chief Scheduler/Chief Pilot/Examiner Aircraft Commander. Additionally, Col. Sebesta has deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar as the Director of Operations for the C-21A Detachment and was later tasked to be the Safety Advisor to the Afghan National Army Air Corps. Furthermore, in 2009, Col. Sebesta attended the State Flight Academy of Ukraine in Kirovograd, Ukraine to fly the Antonov-32 where he served as an Instructor Pilot with the 438th Combined Air Power Transition Force in Kabul, Afghanistan; teaching Afghan pilots structured air flying and instrumental procedures. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Sebesta was the Director of Operations and Interim Squadron Commander for the 68th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
EDUCATION
1996 F-117A Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice Course, Holloman AFB, N.M.
1998 Associate Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Community College of the Air Force
2000 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.
2001 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Air Mobility Division Operations Training, Hurlburt AFB, Fla.
2007 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, U.S. Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2007 USAF Flight Safety Officer Course, U.S. Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2009 Flight Certificate for the Antonov 32 Aircraft Operations Course, State Flight Academy of Ukraine
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master’s Degree in Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness, American Military University
2017 Board President’s Course, U.S. Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2019 Advanced Instruments School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 1995 – Aug 1998, Crew Chief F-117A, Holloman AFB, N.M.
2. May 2000 – Nov 2000, Special Assistant to the Commander, Prescott, Ariz.
3. Nov 2000 – Jan 2001, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. Jan 2001 – May 2006, Instructor Pilot/Assistant Flight Commander, 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
5. May 2006 – Jan 2009, Wing Chief of Flight Safety, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. Jan 2009 – April 2010, Safety Advisor to ANAAC/AN-32 Instructor Pilot, Kabul AB, Afghanistan
7. Apr 2010 – Oct 2010, Assistant Ops Officer, 458th Airlift Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.
8. Oct 2010 – Oct 2011, Chief of Squadron Safety, 22nd Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
9. Oct 2011 – Nov 2013, IMA to Chief SAAM Planning, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
10. Nov 2013 – Feb 2020, Chief Scheduler/Chief Pilot/Examiner Aircraft Commander, 68th Airlift Squadron, JBSA Lackland, Texas
11. Feb 2020 – Dec 2023, Director of Operations, Interim Squadron Commander, 68th Airlift Squadron, JBSA Lackland, Texas
12. Dec 2023- present, Operations Group Commander, 910th Operations Group Commander, 910th Airlift Wing, YARS, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,300 military hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, C-5A/B/C, C-21A, AN-32 and C-5M
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and two oak leaf clusters
NATO Medal with bronze star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 14, 2000
First Lieutenant May 14, 2002
Captain May 14, 2004
Major Dec 01, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 17, 2016
Colonel Oct 13, 2023
(Current as of Dec 2023)