COLONEL MATTHEW CALABRO

Alaska Air National Guard Col. Matthew Calabro is the vice commander of 176th Wing.

Colonel Matthew Calabro is the Vice Commander, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard. The 176th Wing provides the U.S. Air Force capabilities of Global Reach and Vigilance through combined operations of Personnel Recovery, Strategic Airlift, and Air Sovereignty missions. He is responsible for the recruiting, retention, and training of more than 1,400 Air National Guard members, operating a diverse mix of C-17, HH-60, and HC-130J aircraft, Guardian Angel, an Air Defense Squadron, plus a full array of agile combat support capability for in-state and world-wide deployment. The wing maintains a constant watch and commitment for the commander, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Transportation Command, and Alaska North American Aerospace Defense Command Region.

Colonel Calabro received his commission from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s ROTC program in 2000. In his last assignment, Colonel Calabro was the Commander of the 176th Operations Support Squadron, leading more than 110 Airmen conducting Aircrew Flight Equipment, Aviation Resource Management, Intelligence, Commander’s Support Staff, Aircrew Training, Current Operations, and Weapons & Tactics functions for the 176th Operations Group. Prior to joining the Alaska Air National Guard, Colonel Calabro served as a Budget Officer with the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, AK. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and is a senior pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours. Colonel Calabro saved 196 lives during 90 peacetime search and rescue missions, and saved 62 lives during 114 combat search and rescue missions. His deployments include: Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 2008, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan; Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 2012, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan; and nine name Operations in 2015, Camp Lemmonier, Republic of Djibouti where he served as Commander of the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron

EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, State University of New York, Albany, NY
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2001 Basic Financial Management Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
2005 Master of Science in Management, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, FL
2005 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX & Ft. Rucker, AL
2006 HH-60G Initial Qualification Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
2008 HH-60G Aircraft Commander Upgrade Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
2008 Squadron Officer School, (correspondence)
2010 Instructor Pilot Upgrade Training, Kirtland AFB, NM
2011 Air Command and Staff College, (correspondence)
2012 United States Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2016 Air War College, (correspondence)
2017 C-17A Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, OK

ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 00 - Sep 03 Budget Officer, Deputy Chief of Financial Analysis, 354 CPTS, Eielson AFB, AK
2. Sep 03 - Sep 04 Traditional Guardsman, 210 RQS, Kulis ANGB, AK
3. Oct 04 - Apr 05 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
4. Apr 05 - Nov 05 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training – Helicopter, Ft. Rucker, AL
5. Nov 05 - Apr 06 HH-60 Formal Training Unit, Kirtland AFB, NM
6. Apr 06 - Mar 08 Executive Officer / Resource Advisor, 176 OG, Kulis ANGB, AK
7. Apr 08 - Jun 10 Chief of Training, 210 RQS, Kulis ANGB, AK
8. Jun 10 - Jun 11 Chief of Weapons & Tactics, 210 RQS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
9. Jan 12 - Sep 15 Chief of Weapons & Tactics, 176 OSS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
10. Oct 15 - Sep 17 Operations Officer, 210 RQS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
11. Sep 17 - Mar 19, Commander, 176 OSS, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
12. Mar 19 - Present, Vice Commander, 176 WG, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: 3,020 Military time / 114 Combat sorties
Aircraft Flown: C-17A, HH-60G, UH-1H/V, T-6A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Action Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2000
First Lieutenant June 2002
Captain November 2004
Major July 2010
Lieutenant Colonel November 2014
Colonel August 2019

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