Colonel Daniel J. Sarachene is the Vice Commander, 914th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York. The wing, composed of three groups and 12 squadrons, is strategically located on western New York's Canadian border between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Nine C-130 H2 aircraft are assigned to the wing whose mission is to recruit, train and equip Rapid Global Mobility forces for the Theater or Joint Force Commander. The 914 AW is host unit to approximately 3,000 assigned military, civil service and contract personnel.
Colonel Sarachene received his commission 1 October 1990 from Officer's Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas. He's served in numerous capacities since 1992 as a Traditional Reservist and Air Reserve Technician. He's deployed to and flown missions in SOUTHCOM, NORTHCOM, EUROCOM, CENTCOM and PACCOM supporting numerous operations including; Desert Calm, Provide Promise, Joint Endeavor, Joint Enterprise, Cobra Gold, Coronet Oak, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Hurricane Andrew Relief, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav Aerial Spray, Unified Response, Deepwater Horizon and New Dawn. Prior to his selection as Vice Commander, 914th Airlift Wing, Colonel Sarachene was the Commander, 757th Airlift Squadron, Youngstown ARS, OH. In this role, he was responsible for the Department of Defense's (DoD) only large-area fixed-wing aerial application capability to control disease vectors in combat areas and on DoD installations; to maintain a large-area application capability to control vegetation and pests of vegetation on DoD installations; and to provide aerial spray training. He is also a civilian pilot for Delta Air Lines based in Atlanta, Georgia since 1997. He assumed his current position in May of 2014.
The colonel was born in Pensacola, Florida; grew up in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and graduated from Absegami High School in 1982. He's a command pilot, having flown more than 12,000 hours in fixed-wing military and civilian aircraft.
EDUCATION:
1989 Bachelor's Degree, Kent State University
1990 Officer Training School, Distinguished Graduate
1991 Undergraduate Pilot Training, ATC Commander's Trophy, Distinguished Graduate
1992 C-130 Initial Qualification Training, Distinguished Graduate
2002 Squadron Officer's School, Non-Residence
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Non-Residence
2012 Air War College, Non-Residence
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. 1990, Officer Training School, Lackland AFB, TX
2. 1990 - 1991, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS
3. 1992 - 1996, Pilot, 757th Airlift Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, OH
4. 1996 - 2004, Instructor and Evaluator Pilot, 773rd Airlift Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, OH
5. 2004 - 2006, Chief Pilot, 910th Operations Support Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, OH
6. 2006 - 2008, Commander, 910th Operations Support Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, OH
7. 2008 - 2011, Commander, 773rd Airlift Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, OH
8. 2011 - 2014, Commander, 757th Airlift Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, OH
9. 2014 - Present, Vice Commander, 914th Airlift Wing, Niagara Air Reserve Station, NY
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 12,000+
Aircraft: T-37B, T-38A, C-130E/H, B727, MD88, B737
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal (3 devices)
Air Medal (4 devices)
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (1 device)
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2 devices)
Combat Readiness Medal (10 devices)
National Defense Service Medal (1 device)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal (1 device)
Iraqi Campaign Medal (1 device)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (1 device)
Armed Forces Service Medal (1 device)
Humanitarian Service Medal (4 devices)
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border (3 devices)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (5 devices)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (4 M devices and silver hour glass)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant - October 1, 1990
First Lieutenant - October 1, 1992
Captain - August 10, 1995
Major - May 6, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel - August 17, 2006
Colonel - April 1, 2014