Col. John Goodson III is the commander, 37th Training Group, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. He is responsible for professional and technical training for more than 25,000 military and civilians in the armed forces, international community and other federal agencies. Training subjects include security forces, combat arms, recruiting, services, TEMPEST, safety, logistics, contracting, and the enlisted aircrew undergraduate course. The 37th Training Group is also the sole training agency for Federal and Department of Defense military working dogs and handlers. The group has more than 927 personnel, 180 facilities, and equipment valued at more than $100 million.
Col. Goodson was born and raised in New Jersey. He enlisted in the Air Force in July 1989, and became an Air Traffic Controller. He was later commissioned as an Airfield Operations Officer in November 1998. As a commissioned officer, Col. Goodson has held various leadership positions at all levels from the squadron to the Secretary of the Air Force staff, and has deployed three times to Iraq and Syria in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn and Inherent Resolve.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science Degree, Thomas Edison State College, N.J.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Master’s Degree in Business Administration, The George Washington University, Washington D.C.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Washington D.C.
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 1989 - November 1998, Air Traffic Controller, 305th Operations Support Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
- November 1998 - April 1999, Airfield Operations Student, 97th Operations Support Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
- April 1999 - February 2001, Airfield Operations Flight Commander, 88th Operations Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- February 2001 - March 2002, Wing Executive Officer, 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- March 2002 - May 2004, Chief, Airfield Operations, 36th Contingency Response Group, Andersen AFB, Guam
- May 2004 - July 2005, Airfield Operations Flight Commander, 28th Operations Support Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. (September 2004 – January 2005, Iraq)
- July 2005 - July 2007, Air Force Intern, The George Washington University and Pentagon, Washington D.C.
- July 2007 - June 2011, Chief, Airfield Operations, Combat Rescue, Special Tactics & Air Liaison Assignment Officer, Air Force Personnel Center, JBSA-Randolph, Texas (October 2010 – May 2011, Iraq)
- June 2011 - May 2013, Chief, Airfield Systems & Readiness, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, JBSA-Randolph, Texas
- May 2013 - July 2014, Director, Airfield Operations, Air Force Flight Standards Agency, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- July 2014 - July 2016, Commander, 72d Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- July 2016 - August 2019, Deputy Commander, 737th Training Group, JBSA-Lackland, Texas (March 2018 - October 2018, Syria)
- August 2019 – July 2022, Director Business Operations, Secretary of the Air Force, Management, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
- July 2022 – present, Commander, 37th Training Group, 37th Training Wing, JBSA-Lackland Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Iraq Campaign Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Nov. 13, 1998
First Lieutenant Nov. 13, 2000
Captain Nov. 13, 2002
Major July 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2013
Colonel Dec. 1, 2019
(Current as of SEPTEMBER 2022)