Sequence of Events
Embedded Files
Arrival of the Official Party
National Anthem
Invocation
Medal Presentation
Remarks by Lt Col Michael Gutierrez
Retiree & Family Recognition
Flag Folding Ceremony
Remarks by Lt Col Gerry Thompson
Departure of the Official Party
Officiant
Officiant
Lt Col Michael J. Gutierrez is the Combined Crisis Planner for United States Forces Korea located at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea (RoK). He develops and synchronizes OPLANs, CONPLANs, branch plans and wartime courses of action and is responsible for forming and leading operational plans teams, war games, and campaign analysis for the 4-star Commanding General and staff. He leads CFC operational planning and execution for DoD’s largest command-post exercise and supports U.S. and RoK political-military estimates, policy and strategy formulation, and interagency coordination.
Lt Col Gutierrez earned his commission from Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in November 2006. He’s held a variety of flying assignments at the squadron level including serving as the Weapons Officer for the 966th and 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadrons at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Director of Operations for the 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron and Commander of the
330th Combat Training Squadron both at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. His staff assignments include Chief of C2 Programming Branch and Senate Liaison in the Secretary of
Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison.
Lt Col Gutierrez is a senior Air Battle Manager with more than 2,300 flying hours and over 1,025 combat hours in support of numerous contingency operations. Prior to his current assignment, he was a student at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School
(JAWS), Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Ga.
2006 Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. by correspondence
2018 Master of Science, Operational Warfare, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2018 Graduate Certificate in Legislative Affairs, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2019 National Security Fellow, The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Washington, D.C.
2024 Masters of Science, Joint Campaign Planning & Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. November 2006 – October 2007, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2. October 2007 – January 2012, Air Weapons Officer & later Executive Officer. 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron;
Assistant Chief, Weapons & Tactics, 330th Combat Training Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
3. January 2012 – June 2012, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
4. June 2012 – December 2012, Student, 552nd Training Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
5. December 2012 - July 2015, Chief, Weapons & Tactics, 966th & 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadrons, Tinker AFB, Okla.
6. August 2015 – June 2016, Chief, Group Weapons and Tactics, 552nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
7. June 2016 – July 2017, Chief, C2 Programming Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2017 – December 2018, Air Force Legislative Fellow assigned to the Office of U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08),
Secretary of Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
9. December 2018 – December 2019, Senate Legislative Liaison, Secretary of Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon,
Arlington, Va.
10. December 2019 – April 2020, Student, 330th Combat Training Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. April 2020 – April 2021, Assistant Director of Operations then Director of Operations, 16th Airborne Command and Control
Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
12. April 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 330th Combat Training Squadron then Deputy Commander 461st Operations Group,
Robins AFB, Ga.
13. June 2023 – July 2024, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
14. July 2024 – present, Combined Crisis Planner, U.S. Forces Korea, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2024 – Present, Combined Crisis Planner, U.S. Forces Korea, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Air Battle Manager
Flight hours: more than 2,300
Aircraft flown: E-8C, E-3B/C, E-3G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Weapons School
2014 Air Combat Command Air Battle Manager of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 17, 2006
First Lieutenant November 17, 2008
Captain November 17, 2010
Major December 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2020
(Current as of February 2025)
retiree
retiree
Lt Col Gerry Q. Thompson serves as the Chief of Staff for the 461st Air Control Wing. As Chief of Staff, Lt Col Thompson coordinates, prioritizes and promulgates wing commander direction for the daily activities of the wing staff. Additionally, as Chief of Staff he provides the A-Staff with intent, guidance,and direction to execute given tasks, and is responsibile for the operations, health, and welfare of the A-Staff. Lt Col Thompson is a qualified BCC Air Battle Manager.
Lt Col Thompson grew up in Camden, Arkansas, and entered the Air Force in 1995 through basic training as a Combat Weather Team weather forecaster. He earned his commission through Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in November 2006. He has participated in numerous contingency operations around the world to include USSOUTHCOM Counter-Drug Operations, and deployments in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, INHERENT RESOLVE, and DELIBERATE RESOLVE.
Lt Col Thompson is an Air Battle Manager with 1,735 hours all in the E-8C JSTARS. Prior to his current position, he was assigned as Deputy Commander, 461st Operations Group where he assisted the Group Commander in organizing, training and equipping members of the Operations Group ensuring the combat capability of all personnel assigned. Lt Col Thompson is married to the former Joni Mecklenburg and they have two children, Kiara and Makala.
EDUCATION
2005 Associates Degree in Weather Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2005 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Natural Science and Math, Thomas Edison State University, Trenton, N.J. 2006 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Graduate, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV 2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Master of Aeronautical Science Degree, Aeronautics, Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Daytona, FL
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Multi-Domain Operational Strategist concentration, Maxwell AFB, AL 2018 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. November 2006 – October 2007, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
2. October 2007 – June 2008, Student, E-8C Initial Qualification Training, 330th Combat Training Squadron, Robins AFB, GA
3. June 2008 – March 2010, Air Weapons Officer, Instructor Air Weapons Officer, 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Robins AFB, GA
4. March 2010 – June 2011, Instructor Air Weapons Officer, 330th Combat Training Squadron, Robins AFB, GA
5. June 2011 – December 2011, Student, USAF Weapons School, 8th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV.
6. December 2011 – June 2013, Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Robins AFB, GA
7. June 2013 – July 2014, Resource Advisor, Instructor Air Battle Manager, Weapons Instructor Course, 8th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
8. July 2014 – April 2016, Asst Director of Operations, Requirements, Instructor Air Battle Manager, Weapons Instructor Course, 8th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
9. April 2016 – June 2016, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, Instructor Air Battle Manager, Weapons Instructor Course, 8th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
10. June 2016 – June 2017, Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) Aide-de-Camp, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
11. June 2017 – June 2018, Student, Air Command and Staff College (MDOS Concentration), Maxwell AFB, AL
12. June 2018 – Sep 2019, Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Planner, 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component (JSOAC), USSOCOM, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
13. Sep 2019 – June 2020, Chief, Advanced Warfighter Integration, 1st JSOAC, USSOCOM, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
14. June 2020 – April 2021, Chief, Wing Weapons and Tactics, 461st OSS, Robins AFB, GA
15. April 2021 – April 2022, Director of Operations, 16th ACCS, Robins AFB, GA
16. April 2022 – April 2024, Commander, 12 ACCS, Robins AFB, GA
17. April 2024 - Sep 2024, Deputy Commander, 461st Operations Group, Robins AFB, GA
18. Sep 2024 - Present, Chief of Staff, 461st Air Control Wing, Robins AFB, GA
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1.June 2018 – Sep 2019, Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Planner, 1st JSOAC, USSOCOM, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
2.Sep 2019 – June 2020, Chief, Advanced Warfighter Integration, 1st JSOAC, USSOCOM, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Air Battle Manager
Flight Hours: More than 1,700 including 306 combat hours Aircraft: E-8C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star with Valor Defense
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Distinguished/Presidential Unit Citation Medal
Gallant Unit Citation
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov 17, 2006
First Lieutenant Nov 17, 2008
Captain Nov 17, 2010
Major 1 Nov 2016
Lieutenant Colonel 1 Oct 2020
(Current as of May 2025)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse