Colonel Christian P. Cornette is the 136th Airlift Wing Commander, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. He leads a fully operational combat unit that also supports the 254th Combat Communications Group. The wing is responsible for organizing, equipping, and training personnel for worldwide deployment by providing combatant commanders with combat-ready forces, while supporting Air Mobility Command’s airlift requirements with eight assigned C-130J aircraft. The wing also provides ready forces to the Governor and Texas Military Department to aid in domestic disaster response and homeland defense.
Colonel Cornette is a Joint Qualified Officer and skilled commander with extensive experience in key positions on multiple Major Command Headquarters staff. He received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Troy State University in 1997 as a Blue-Chip Award winner. He is a Command Pilot with more than 2,400 total hours in the C-17A, KC-135R/T, T-1A, and T-37B. He has flown combat and combat support missions during Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, and FUNDAMENTAL JUSTICE.
Prior to his current assignment, the colonel was the Chief, Director’s Action Group, Office of the Director of the Air National Guard, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration/Management, Troy State University, Ala. 1999 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Undergraduate Space Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and
Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2018 Master of Science, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval Station Newport, R.I. 2020 Emergency Operations Center Director Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1997 - December 1997, Scheduling Officer, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
2. December 1998 - April 1999, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. May 1999 - January 2003, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, Executive Officer, 350th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
4. January 2003 - November 2003, Executive Officer, KC-135 Instructor Pilot, 22d Operations Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.
5. November 2003 - November 2004, Flight Commander, KC-135 Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot, 55th Air Refueling Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
6. November 2004 - June 2005, Executive Officer, KC-135 Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot, 97th Operations Group, Altus AFB, Okla.
7. June 2005 - July 2007, Air Education Training Command Intern, Command Training Integration Program Manager, KC-135 Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot, Headquarters AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas.
8. July 2007 - January 2010, Break in Service
9. January 2010 - August 2012, Flight Commander, Chief Weapons/Tactics, Space/Missile Officer, 119th Command and Control Squadron, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
10. August 2012 - July 2015, National Guard Bureau/A8 Strategic Analyst, Chief Staff Actions Control Office, NGB, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
11. July 2015 - July 2017, Commander, C-17 Pilot, 164th Operations Support Squadron, Memphis ANG Base, Tenn.
12. July 2017 - July 2018, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
13. July 2018 - January 2020, Chief, Deliberate Plans/Policy Branch, NGB Joint Staff, Arlington Hall Station, Va.
14. January 2020 - August 2023, Commander, C-17 Pilot, 164th Mission Support Group, Memphis ANG Base, Tenn.
15. August 2023 - April 2024, Chief, Director’s Action Group, Office Director of the Air National Guard, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. April 2024 - Present, Commander, 136th Airlift Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
July 2018 - January 2020, Chief Deliberate Plans/Policy Branch, NGB Joint Staff, Arlington Hall Station, Va., as lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot Flight hours: more than 2,400
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, KC-135R/T and C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1997
First Lieutenant May 28, 1999
Captain May 28, 2001
Major June 11, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel July 24, 2014
Colonel Jan. 20, 2020
(Current as of May 2024)