Colonel Billy R. Wilson Jr. is the Commander, 737th Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, the largest training group in the Air Force, comprising more than 5,000 trainee and permanent party Airmen. As the Air Force’s only Basic Military Training organization, the group is comprised of ten squadrons that conduct all aspects of Air Force enlisted recruit training for approximately 35,000 Active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and United States Space Force accessions annually.
Colonel Wilson is a recent graduate of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he completed a Master of National Security and Strategic Studies degree. Prior to attending the Naval War College, he served as the Branch Chief for Air Force Airfield Operations Force Development at the Headquarters Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Directorate of Current Operations, Military/Civil Aviation Integration Division, the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. His leadership spanned four Air Force Specialties and was crucial to the assessment, development, and education of more than 6,000 total force Airfield Operations Airmen.
Colonel Wilson enlisted in the Air Force in 1989, as an Air Traffic Controller earning dual qualifications in Control Tower and Radar Controlled Approach operations. In 2001, he earned his commission as an Airfield Operations Officer from the Air Force Officer Training School in Montgomery, Ala. He has served in a variety of positions as Operational Test Director, U.S. Air Force Academy Air Officer Commanding, Technical Training Squadron Commander, and Expeditionary Air Advisor.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Management, Univ of Maryland Univ College, Maryland
2001 Honor Graduate, Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Airfield Operations Officer Basic Course, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Aeronautical Science Technology, Embry-Riddle University, Fla.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Correspondence)
2013 Master of Leadership and Counseling, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colo.
2013 Honor Graduate, Air Officer Commanding Master’s Program, USAF Academy, Colo.
2016 Air Force Inspector General Course (Wing), Lansdowne, Va.
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Correspondence)
2023 Master of National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2001 – May 2004, Deputy Airfield Operations Flight Commander, 354 Operations Support Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska (March 2003, Deputy Combat Airspace Manager, HQ 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan)
2. June 2004 – June 2006, Dep. Airfield Operations Flight Commander, 4 OSS, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C. (January – May 2005, Deputy Airfield Operations Flight Commander, 332 EOSS, Balad Air Base, Iraq)
3. July 2006 – July 2009, Airfield Operations Flight Commander, 36 OSS, Andersen AFB, Guam (February & August 2008, Combined-Joint Special Operations Liaison Element, Osan Air Base, S. Korea)
4. July 2009 – May 2012, USAF Operational Test Director, AFOTEC, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, Calif. (January – December 2011, Dep A-3 Ops Director/Air Advisor, 838 AEG, Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan)
5. June 2012 – May 2013, Student, USAF Academy Air Officer Commanding Program, Colorado Springs, Colo.
6. May 2013 – May 2014, Vice-Commandant, USAF Academy Preparatory School, USAF Academy, Colo.
7. May 2014 – June 2015, Commandant, USAF Academy Preparatory School, USAF Academy, Colo.
8. June 2015 – May 2016, Director of Operations, 334 TRS, Keesler AFB, Miss.
9. June 2016 – March 2017, Wing Inspector General, 81st Training Wing, Keesler AFB, Miss.
10. March 2017 – May 2019, Commander, 334 TRS, Keesler AFB, Miss.
11. May 2019 – June 2022, Branch Chief, Airfield Operations Force Development, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. July 2022 – July 2023, Graduate Student, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
13. July 2023 – present, Commander, 737th Training Group, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal
(Current as of 1 July 2023)