Colonel Joseph P. Contino is the Operations Group Commander of the 914th Air Refueling Wing at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York. In addition to his group staff, he commands the 328th Air Refueling Squadron, 914th Operational Support Squadron, and the 914th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. He also augments AMC/HQ; A10N Nuclear Operations and Plans division as a planner and subject matter expert.
Colonel Contino is a current and qualified KC-135R instructor pilot with past experiences in numerous deployed expeditionary leadership roles and Chief of both Tactics and XP for the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio where he was responsible for supporting the AFTRANS NEF and STRATCOM by assuring 12 KC-135R aircraft, 16 combat ready crews of the 121st Air Refueling Wing were trained and ready to conduct global nuclear operations as part of the 18th Air Force’s Nuclear Task Force.
Colonel Contino entered the Air Force as a cadet in the USAF Auxiliary - Civil Air Patrol at the age of 13. At 19 he joined the USAF as a member of the Ohio Air National Guard (121st Tactical Fighter Wing) as an Airman Basic; Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist (i.e. weapons loader) on the A-7D aircraft. In 1992 the 121st TFW transitioned to the KC-135R aircraft, thus becoming the 121st Air Refueling Wing and affording him the opportunity to cross train and fly as a Boom Operator. As a KC135R Boom Operator he participated in Operations DENY FLIGHT and SHINING HOPE. He eventually pursued a career as a commissioned officer and pilot and was selected by the 910 Airlift Wing as a C-130H pilot. He later had the opportunity to return home to the 121st Air Refueling Wing as a pilot where he has participated in Operation NOBLE EAGLE (ONE), Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR) where he has amassed 460 combat flying hours. He has also deployed in support of the PACOM Continuous Bomber Presence mission five times, and most recently conducted combat operations as an Expeditionary Refueling Squadron Operations Officer for Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR).
Colonel Contino has served in many squadron and wing level positions as Chief of Squadron Training then later as the Chief Pilot Scheduler of the 166th Air Refueling Squadron. He has also served the 121st ARW as the Chief of Wing Tactics and the 121st OG as an Instructor Pilot.
Colonel Contino is a command pilot with over 3300 hours in the KC-135, including 475 hours of combat time (total).
EDUCATION
1994 Associates of Applied Science in Business Marketing, Columbus State CC
1996 Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, Franklin University, USA
1998 Master of Business Administration, Franklin University, USA
2009 Advanced Instrument School, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2010 Combat Air Tactics School, Rosecrans ANGB, Miss.
2008 Squadron Officer School, non-resident course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, non-resident Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Air War College, non-resident Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1991 – May 1992, Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist, A-7D, 121st Tactical Fighter Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
2. May 1992 – December 1992, Crew Chief, KC-135R, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
3. December 1992 – October 1996, Boom Operator, KC-135R, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
4. October 1996 – May 2000, Pilot, C-130H, 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown ARS, Ohio
5. May 2000 – October 2021, Pilot, KC-135R, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
6. May 2020 – Present, Planner/SME, AMC/A10N, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. October 2021 – Present, Commander, 914th Operations Group, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: USAF: Instructor Pilot; CIVIL: ATP, AMEL
Flight hours: 5010
Aircraft flown: KC-135R, C-130H, B737, T-37, T-44
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with 2 oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with 5 oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
AF Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
AF Longevity Service with 5 oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 'M' Device
USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
AF Training Ribbon
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Permanent (lifetime) member, National Guard Association
Permanent (lifetime) member, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Permanent (lifetime) member, American Legion
Permanent (lifetime) member, Knights of Columbus
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May, 1997
First Lieutenant May, 1999
Captain Aug, 2001
Major Oct, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Feb, 2014
Colonel April 2023
CADET
May 1984 – June 1990, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol
ENLISTED CAREER
Enlisted as an Airman Basic in the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing
Aircraft weapons system school 1991 - A-7D fighter aircraft
Boom Operator KC-135R CCTS flight school, 1992, Castle AFB, CA
Left enlisted rank as E-5 (Staff Sergeant)
OFFICER CAREER
Commissioned as U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer via Officer Training School 1997, Maxwell AFB, AL
Pilot candidate for 910 Airlift Wing (C-130H2) Youngstown ARB, OH
Graduated Undergraduate Pilot Training 1998, NAS Corpus Christi, TX
Graduated C-130H co-pilot training 1999, Little Rock AFB, AR
Graduated KC-135R co-pilot training 2000, Altus AFB, OK
Graduated KC-135R Aircraft Commander training 2004, Altus AFB, OK
Graduated KC-135R Combat Air Tactics School (CATS) 2009, St Joseph, MO
Graduated KC-135R Instructor pilot training 2010, Altus AFB, OK
(CURRENT AS OF APRIL 2023)