Col. Illya K. Thomas is the commander of the 509th Mission Support Group, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. He commands six squadrons (1,800 personnel) providing the Base Operations Support that enables strategic nuclear operations, lethal global strike, and agile combat support. He leads the execution of civil engineering, law enforcement, security, logistics, contracting, communications, fire protection, human resources, food services, Airman and family support, and infrastructure programs. This support provides the security and surety of strategic nuclear resources and of the nation's only B-2 bomber fleet valued at $44 billion. He oversees a $50M budget, along with a $340M construction program for the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings, the 442nd Fighter Wing, and eight tenant units.
Col. Thomas enlisted in the Air Force in 1991 and commissioned in 2001 after completing Officer Training School. His command tours include the 55th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska and the 2d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Col. Thomas served as the Chief, Plans and Operations in the Directorate for Logistics, J4 at United States Forces Korea and multiple joint tours where he earned his certification as a fully joint qualified officer. His deployments include Southwest Asia’s Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and the Republic of Korea. In 2021, he graduated from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, Louisiana Technical University, Ruston, LA 2005 Master of Arts in Management, Webster University, St. Louis, MO
2007 Primary Developmental Education, Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery AL 2011 Intermediate Developmental Education, Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2011 Strategic Logistics Management, LOG 399, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 2014 Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, RI
2014 Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Naval Warfare Research Group, Naval War College, Newport, RI 2019 Enterprise Logistics, LOG 420, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2019 Advanced Program in Logistics and Technology, Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, NC 2021 Master of Science in National Security and Resource Strategy, The Dwight D. Eisenhower School
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jan 2002 - Jul 2002, Commander, Vehicle Maintenance Flight, 43d Transportation Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
2. Jul 2002 - Nov 2002, Logistics Readiness Officer’s Training, 43d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
3. Nov 2002 - Jan 2003, Commander, Vehicle Maintenance Flight, 43d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
4. Jan 2003 - Jun 2003, Officer in Charge, Deployments, 43d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
5. Jun 2003 - Jun 2004, Officer in Charge, Contingency Plans and Training, 43d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
6. Jun 2004 - May 2005, Deputy, Installation Deployment Officer, 43d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
7. May 2005 - Jan 2006, Assistant Operations Officer, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
8. Jan 2006 - Jun 2007, Commander, Fuels Flight, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
9. Jun 2007 - Jul 2008, Wing Executive Officer, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
10. Jul 2008 - Aug 2010 Chief, CENTCOM/EUCOM Planner, HQ SDDC, USTRANSCOM, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois (Joint Assignment)
11. Aug 2010 - Nov 2010 Advanced Logistics Readiness Officer Course Student, Fort Dix, New Jersey
12. Nov 2010 - Jul 2011 Chief, EUCOM/AFRICOM Planner, HQ SDDC, USTRANSCOM, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois (Joint Assignment)
13. Jul 2011 - Jul 2012 Logistics Officer Assignments, HQ AFPC, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
14. Jul 2012 - Jul 2013 Deputy Chief, Logistics Officer Assignments, HQ AFPC, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
15. Jul 2013 - Jul 2014 Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
16. Jul 2014 - Jul 2016 Commander, 55th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
17. Jul 2016 - Jul 2018 Commander, 2d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
18. Jul 2018 - Jul 2020 Chief, Joint Logistics CENTCOM Planner, Directorate for Logistics J4, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC (Joint Assignment)
19. Jul 2020 - Jun 2021 Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC
20. Jul 2021 - May 2022, Division Chief, Directorate for Logistics, United Nations Command U4, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea (Joint Assignment)
21. May 2022 - Jul 2023, Chief, J4 Plans and Operations Division, United States Forces Korea J4, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea (Joint Assignment)
22. Jul 2023 - Present, Commander, 509th Mission Support Group, Whiteman AFB, Missouri
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Services Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one silver oak leaf
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Iraqi Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 20, 2001
First Lieutenant December 20, 2003
Captain December 20, 2005
Major December 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2016
Colonel October 1, 2022
(Current as of 18 Jul 2023)