Colonel Stewart J. Parker is the Deputy Commander for Sustainment, 492d Special Operations Wing (SOW) located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The 492 SOW operates the C-146, MC-130J and U-28, and leads training and education of Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel in various additional aircraft. The wing also develops competitive SOF mission concepts and flexible response options in support of combatant commander requirements.
Colonel Parker is a career Special Tactics Officer and was commissioned through the US Air Force Academy in May 2002. He is qualified as a jumpmaster, combat diver, and joint terminal attack control instructor and served as Air Force Special Operations Command’s subject matter expert on fire support. He advised senior leaders on tactics, techniques and procedures applied in terminal control operations, implemented multiple technological innovations, and oversaw US Special Operations Command’s fire support training program.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, US Air Force Academy, Colo.
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2013 Masters in Business Administration, Trident University, Calif.
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2019 Joint and Combined Warfighter Course, National Defense University, Norfolk, Virg.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jul 2002 - Dec 2004, Student, Combat Control Training Pipeline, various locations
2. Dec 2004 - Aug 2008, Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
3. Aug 2008 - May 2009, Deputy Director, Air-to-Ground Integration Branch, Operations Directorate, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. Jun 2009 - Aug 2010, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. Aug 2010 - Apr 2012, Director, Special Tactics Assessments, 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. May 2012 - Jul 2014, Director of Operations, 23d Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. Jul 2014 - Jun 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
8. Jun 2015 - Jun 2017, Commander, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Airfield, N.C.
9. Jun 2017 - Jul 2019, Action Officer, Deputy Director for Special Operations, Joint Staff, Wash D.C.
10. Aug 2019 - June 2020, Senior Military Fellow, Center for a New American Security, Wash D.C.
11. June 2020 - Aug 2021, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. Aug 2021 - Jul 2022, Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
13. Aug 2022 - Aug 2023, Vice Commander, 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
14. Aug 2023 - Aug 2024, Commander, Joint Task Force
15. Aug 2024 - Present, Deputy Commander for Sustainment, 492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star with Valor Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 US Air Force Special Tactics Officer of the Year
2007 US Air Force Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, Junior Officer Category
2008 US Air Force Special Operations Company Grade Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 2002
First Lieutenant May 2004
Captain May 2006
Major May 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Jan 2016
Colonel May 2021
(Current as of Aug 2024)