Col. Jay R. Spohn serves as the Commander of the 188th Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Ark. He leads more than 1,000 Airmen to deliver airpower via the MQ-9A Reaper, Intelligence Analysis and Targeting, Expeditionary Medicine, and Full-Spectrum Mission Support. Additionally, he will oversee the Wing’s hosting of the Republic of Singapore F-16 Security Assistance Training Squadron, and a F-35 Foreign Military Sales Formal Training Unit.
In 1998, the colonel graduated from Embry-Riddle Aero University in Daytona Beach, Fla. He commissioned from the ANG Academy of Military Science at McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, Tenn., in October 1999. The colonel has served in the ANG for 25 years in the states of Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Florida, and Alabama. In 2012, Spohn was selected as the only Air National Guardsmen for the initial cadre of the United States Air Force’s F-35 program.
Col. Spohn is a Command Pilot with more than 2,500 fighter hours, deployed multiple times in support of OPERATIONS ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH and NOBLE EAGLE. He is a USAF Weapons School graduate, A-10 Division. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Deputy Commander of the 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field, Ala.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science – Aircraft Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aero University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2006 USAF Weapons School – A-10 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Master of Science – Strategic Studies with Highest Academic Distinction, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2021 Air National Guard Safety Board President Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2000 – July 2001, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. August 2001 – December 2001, Student, A-10 Basic Qualification Course, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. January 2002 – December 2004, A-10 Flight Lead, Forward Air Controller (FAC), Scheduler, 103d Fighter Squadron, Willow-Grove Joint Reserve Base, Pa.
4. December 2004 – December 2005, A-10 Instructor, FAC, Sandy-1, 103d Fighter Squadron, Willow-Grove JRB, Pa.
5. January 2006 – June 2006, Student, USAF Weapons School, A-10 Division, Nellis AFB, Nev.
6. July 2006 – March 2007, Wing Weapons and Tactics Officer, 111th Fighter Wing, Willow-Grove JRB, Pa.
7. March 2007 – December 2009, Wing Weapons and Tactics Officer, 188th Fighter Wing, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
8 December 2009 – July 2010, Student, F-15C Transition/F-15C Pilot, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
9. July 2010 – June 2012, F-15C Pilot, F-35 Initial Cadre, Standards and Evaluations, 33d Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
10. July 2012 – August 2014, F-35A Instructor/Evaluator, Squadron Assistant Director of Operations, 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
11. September 2014 – July 2017, F-16 Flight Lead, FAC, Flight Commander, 100th Fighter Squadron, Dannelly Field, Ala.
12. July 2017 – May 2018, Student, Senior Developmental Education, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. May 2018 – May 2020, F-16 Instructor, FAC, 100th Fighter Squadron, Dannelly Field, Ala.
14. May 2020 – March 2021, Commander, 187th Operations Support Squadron, F-16 Instructor, Dannelly Field, Ala.
15. March 2021 – August 2022, Commander, 187th Operations Group, F-16 Instructor/Evaluator, Dannelly Field, Ala.
16. August 2022 – Feb 2024, Deputy Commander, 187th Fighter Wing, F-16 Instructor/F-35 Pilot, Dannelly Field, Ala.
17. February 2024 – Present, Commander – 188th Wing, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,500
Aircraft flown: A-10A/A+/C, F-15A/C/D, F-16C/D, and F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and with six oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Oct. 22, 1999
First Lieutenant Oct. 22, 2001
Captain Nov. 19, 2003
Major Jan. 11, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 11, 2016
Colonel April 9, 2021
(Current as of February 2024)