Colonel David W. Compton serves as the Commander of the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard, at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The 136th Airlift Wing is currently in conversion from the C-130H to the C-130J. Once complete, the wing will be a fully operational combat unit that provides worldwide support for Air Mobility Command and Air Expeditionary Force employment. The 136th Airlift Wing provides these same ready forces to the Governor and the Texas Military Department to aid in domestic disaster response and defense of the homeland. The wing is also home to the 254th Combat Communications Group and the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest.
Colonel Compton commissioned in 1990 through the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Course) program at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, and completed undergraduate navigator training at Mather Air Force Base, Calif. He was assigned to the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, for five years then transitioned to the 314th Airlift Wing’s 7th Operations Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark. After completing his active duty tour, he transferred to the Texas Air National Guard. He has served as an Evaluator Navigator, Squadron Chief Navigator, Wing Plans Officer, Operations Support Squadron Commander and Operations Group Commander.
Prior to his current position, the colonel served as the 136th Vice Wing Commander.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1999 Masters of Arts in Public Administration, Webster University, Mo.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2004 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1990–February 1992, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather Air Force Base, Calif.
2. March 1992–September 1992, Student, C-130 Initial Qualification Training, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
3. October 1992–June 1996, Navigator, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
4. July 1996–September 1997, Instructor Navigator, Chief of Current Operations, 7th Operations Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
5. October 1997–February 1999, Flight Training Unit Instructor Navigator, 62nd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
6. March 1999–March 2001, Flight Commander, FTU Evaluator Navigator, 53rd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
7. March 2001–November 2009, Evaluator Navigator, 136th Operations Support Squadron, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas
8. December 2009–December 2013, Chief of Wing Plans, 136th Airlift Wing, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
9. January 2014–February 2018, Commander, 136 OSS, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
10. February 2018–March 2020, Commander, 136th Operations Group, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
11. March 2020–December 2021, Vice Commander, 136 AW, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
12. December 2021–Present, Commander, 136 AW, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 5,500
Aircraft Flown: T-43, C130E, C-130H2 and C-130H3
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two 'M' devices
NATO Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal
Texas Outstanding Service Medal
Texas Medal of Merit
Texas Adjutant Generals Individual Award with three devices
Texas Federal Service Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
National Guard Association of Texas
National Guard Association of the United States
Air Force Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 23, 1990
First Lieutenant Aug. 23, 1992
Captain Aug. 23, 1994
Major May 31, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 13, 2006
Colonel April 28, 2018
(Current as of January 2022)