Colonel Cade C. Gibson is the commander of the 349th Maintenance Group, Travis Air Force Base, California. The group is responsible for the recruitment, retention, training, and combat readiness of 790 Air Force Reserve officer and enlisted personnel who support C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster, and KC-10 Stratotanker maintenance. He is responsible for the group’s on and local off-equipment maintenance efforts in support of contingency and peacetime requirements in execution of air refueling, aero medical evacuation, and airlift operations missions across the globe. His group is assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command’s Fourth Air Force providing combatant commanders with Global Reach capability, local aircrew flying training, and executing Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command requirements anytime and anywhere.
Colonel Gibson was born in El Paso, Texas. He was commissioned in 1994 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of South Carolina. During his career, he has commanded for almost ten years including command of the 445th Maintenance Group, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and 315th Maintenance Squadron. After his initial assignment to the 92nd Communications Squadron at Fairchild AFB, he received a follow-on assignment to the United States Pacific Command Headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith. Colonel Gibson separated from active duty in 2000 and joined the Air Force Reserve in 2001 as part of the 315th Airlift Wing. He was activated in support of the Presidential Recall Operation NOBLE EAGLE/ENDURING FREEDOM following the 9/11 tragedy. Subsequently, Colonel Gibson cross trained into the aircraft maintenance career field. He has deployed twice in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. While deployed, he led the maintenance team for the busiest strategic airlift hub in Southwest Asia. Prior to his current position, Colonel Gibson served as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Vice Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Robins Air Force Base Georgia.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, University of South Carolina
1996 Communications Officer School, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2002 Master of Business Administration, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
2002 Squadron Officer’s School, by correspondence
2003 Aircraft Maintenance Officer’s Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2006 Juris Doctorate, Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University
2007 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Air War College, by correspondence (Academic Excellence Award, highest distance learning grade for 2012)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1994 – September 1996, Officer in Charge of the Base Visual Information Center
(Combat Camera), 92nd Communications Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
2. September 1996 – September 1997, Chief, Base Network Control Center, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
3. September 1997 – September 2000, OIC of Telecommunications, Defense Red Switch Network, and Video Teleconferencing, HQ USCINCPAC, Camp H. Smith, Hawaii
4. September 2000 – May 2001, Inactive Reserve
5. May 2001 – August 2003, Executive Officer, 315th Maintenance Group, Charleston AFB, SC
6. January 2002 – April 2002, Executive Officer, 496th Air Mobility Squadron, Moron Air Base, Spain
7. August 2003 – January 2006, Gator OIC, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
8. January 2006 – November 2009, Maintenance Operations Officer, 315th Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. (September 2006 – January 2007, Maintenance Operations Officer, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, Southwest Asia)
9. November 2009 – July 2011, Commander, 315th Maintenance Operations Flight, Charleston AFB, SC
10. July 2011 – August 2013, Commander, 315th Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
11. August 2013 – September 2015, Commander, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, SC
12. September 2015 – December 2015, Deputy Group Commander, 315th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Charleston, SC
13. January 2016 – September 2018, Commander, 445th Maintenance Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
14. October 2018 – March 2023, Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Vice Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Robins AFB, GA
15. April 2023 – Present, Commander, 349th Maintenance Group, Travis AFB, Calif
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service with one device
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two “M” devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
(Current as of August 2023)