Colonel Zachary S. Blom is the Commander of the 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. In this role, he leads the “Carpetbagger,” directing Air Force Special Operations Command’s only wing charged with both the formal training of Air Force Special Operations Forces and the operational employment of specialized airpower. The 492 SOW prepares forces for global employment in support of joint and coalition special operations missions. Under his leadership, the wing conducts mission qualification, continuation training, and worldwide deployment of SOF aviation platforms, including the AC-130J Ghostrider, MC-130J Commando II, C-146A Wolfhound, U-28A Draco, and the OA-1K Skyraider II. These specialized airframes – and the Air Commandos who operate and support them – deliver precision strike, mobility, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for United States Special Operations Command and the nation’s most demanding missions.
Col Blom is from southern Ohio and received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at The Ohio State University. After completing pilot training, he remained at Vance AFB, OK as a T-1A Instructor Pilot. Following MC-130P Combat Shadow qualification he completed multiple operational assignments and combat deployments to include expeditionary command. Col Blom then attended National Intelligence University and was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as a Congressional Liaison to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees in Washington D.C.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, The Ohio State University
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Master of Business Administration and Management, California Coast University
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2015 National Intelligence University, Washington D.C.
2021 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2001 – August 2002, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla
- September 2002 – September 2005, T-1A Instructor Pilot, 32nd Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla
- October 2005 – October 2006, Student, MC-130P Mission Pilot Qualification, Multiple Installations
- November 2006 – March 2009, MC-130P Instructor/Evaluator Pilot & Flight Commander, 17th Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
- April 2009 – March 2010, MC-130P Evaluator Pilot/Chief of Flight Safety, 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena AB, Japan
- April 2010 – March 2012, MC-130P Evaluator, Chief of Standardization & Evaluation and Assistant Operations Officer, 9th Special Operations Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla
- April 2012 – April 2013, Chief Special Programs, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla
- May 2013 – July 2014, Chief of Wing Plans & Programs, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla
- August 2014 – July 2015 Student, National Intelligence University, Washington D.C.
- August 2015 – August 2017, Congressional Liaison Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington D.C.
- September 2017 – January 2019, Operations Officer, 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
- January 2019 – June 2020, Commander, 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
- July 2020 – June 2021, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
- June 2021 – July 2023, Military Deputy Director, Special Operations Legislative Affairs, Washington D.C.
- August 2023 – June 2025, Deputy Commander, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
- June 2025 – Present, Commander, 492nd Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 3,800
Aircraft Flown: T-1A, MC-130P, MC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2011 AFA BG Ross G. Hoyt Award Winner
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal NATO Medal
(Current as of July 2025)