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Stigler grabs reins of new 153rd Intelligence Squadron

  • Published
  • By Maj Heath Allen
  • 188th Wing
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The newly activated 153rd Intelligence Squadron has a familiar face taking over as its inaugural commander. Maj. Sara Stigler assumed command of the 153rd during a Conversion Day ceremony held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas, June 7, 2014.

The ceremony also recognized the myriad changes occurring at the 188th Wing as a result of its conversion to a remotely piloted aircraft (MQ-9 Reapers) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission. The 188th Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 188th Wing during the event as well. The 153rd will fall under the newly activated 188th ISR Group of the 188th Wing.

Stigler will be charged with the task of leading 107 dedicated Airmen in a first-of-its-kind space-focused targeting mission. Once it achieves operationally capable status, the 153rd will be responsible for providing targeting production capability, consisting of the processing, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of targeting intelligence and data from a number of sources.

"Maj. Stigler is an exceptional officer and leader and we have a great deal of confidence in her," said Mark W. Anderson, 188th Wing commander. "She is an expert in the Intel field and will no doubt make an outstanding squadron commander. She will be leading a brand new mission and treading unchartered territory. I know she will work tremendously hard to help us achieve our vision of an ISR center of excellence."

The 153rd's mission sets include precision point mensuration, target graphics production, target system analysis and weaponeering. The unit creates decision quality, actionable intelligence that is disseminated to air, ground, and naval force component commanders, around the world, for use in the planning and execution of military operations across the spectrum of conflict.

Stigler, a United States Air Force Academy graduate, is a career intelligence officer. She has served worldwide in a variety of positions at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.

Her journey to the 188th began October 2010 when she joined the Arkansas Air National Guard as an intelligence officer in the 188th Operations Support Flight. From June 2012 to October 2012, Stigler deployed with the 184th Fighter Squadron to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in support of A-10C Thunderbolt II operations and Operation Enduring Freedom. She was 188th chief of wing Intelligence before assuming command of the 153rd.

In 2001, upon graduation from Intelligence Officer's School at Goodfellow Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, Stigler was assigned to the 43rd Operational Support Squadron at Pope AFB, North Carolina. While serving at Pope, she provided intelligence support to the 43rd Airlift Wing and its C-130 flying operations.

In 2002, she deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 41st Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. Upon her return in November 2002, she was selected as the chief of Intelligence for the 41st Airlift Squadron.

In 2003, she deployed to various Middle East locations in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment, Stigler was handpicked to forward deploy in support of the 82nd Airborne Division where she provided time-critical intelligence to tactical airlift operations.

In 2004, she was reassigned to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea as chief of the Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Operations Element at the 607th Air Intelligence Squadron. In Korea, she furnished near real time intelligence reporting to the air component commander in charge of military air operations over the Korean Peninsula.

In 2005, Stigler was selected as the 607th Air Intelligence Group executive officer. In 2006, she was reassigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona at the 12th Information Operations Flight serving as the chief of Influence Operations before becoming their chief of Training.

Stigler grabs reins of new 153rd Intelligence Squadron

  • Published
  • By Maj Heath Allen
  • 188th Wing
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The newly activated 153rd Intelligence Squadron has a familiar face taking over as its inaugural commander. Maj. Sara Stigler assumed command of the 153rd during a Conversion Day ceremony held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas, June 7, 2014.

The ceremony also recognized the myriad changes occurring at the 188th Wing as a result of its conversion to a remotely piloted aircraft (MQ-9 Reapers) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission. The 188th Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 188th Wing during the event as well. The 153rd will fall under the newly activated 188th ISR Group of the 188th Wing.

Stigler will be charged with the task of leading 107 dedicated Airmen in a first-of-its-kind space-focused targeting mission. Once it achieves operationally capable status, the 153rd will be responsible for providing targeting production capability, consisting of the processing, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of targeting intelligence and data from a number of sources.

"Maj. Stigler is an exceptional officer and leader and we have a great deal of confidence in her," said Mark W. Anderson, 188th Wing commander. "She is an expert in the Intel field and will no doubt make an outstanding squadron commander. She will be leading a brand new mission and treading unchartered territory. I know she will work tremendously hard to help us achieve our vision of an ISR center of excellence."

The 153rd's mission sets include precision point mensuration, target graphics production, target system analysis and weaponeering. The unit creates decision quality, actionable intelligence that is disseminated to air, ground, and naval force component commanders, around the world, for use in the planning and execution of military operations across the spectrum of conflict.

Stigler, a United States Air Force Academy graduate, is a career intelligence officer. She has served worldwide in a variety of positions at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.

Her journey to the 188th began October 2010 when she joined the Arkansas Air National Guard as an intelligence officer in the 188th Operations Support Flight. From June 2012 to October 2012, Stigler deployed with the 184th Fighter Squadron to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in support of A-10C Thunderbolt II operations and Operation Enduring Freedom. She was 188th chief of wing Intelligence before assuming command of the 153rd.

In 2001, upon graduation from Intelligence Officer's School at Goodfellow Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, Stigler was assigned to the 43rd Operational Support Squadron at Pope AFB, North Carolina. While serving at Pope, she provided intelligence support to the 43rd Airlift Wing and its C-130 flying operations.

In 2002, she deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 41st Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. Upon her return in November 2002, she was selected as the chief of Intelligence for the 41st Airlift Squadron.

In 2003, she deployed to various Middle East locations in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment, Stigler was handpicked to forward deploy in support of the 82nd Airborne Division where she provided time-critical intelligence to tactical airlift operations.

In 2004, she was reassigned to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea as chief of the Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Operations Element at the 607th Air Intelligence Squadron. In Korea, she furnished near real time intelligence reporting to the air component commander in charge of military air operations over the Korean Peninsula.

In 2005, Stigler was selected as the 607th Air Intelligence Group executive officer. In 2006, she was reassigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona at the 12th Information Operations Flight serving as the chief of Influence Operations before becoming their chief of Training.