Colonel Jay R. Spohn is the Vice Commander of the 187th Fighter Wing,
Alabama Air National Guard. The primary mission of the 187th Fighter
Wing is to provide the State governor, National Command Authority, and
Combatant Commanders with a superbly organized, trained, and
equipped F-16C+ Aviation Package and support functions for world-wide
combat and peacetime/ humanitarian tasking in support of community,
state, and national interests.
Colonel Spohn received his commission from the Air National Guard
Academy of Military Science, Mcghee-Tyson ANGB, TN, in October
1999. Following Euro-NATO Joint-Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB,
TX, where he was a distinguished graduate, he was assigned to the
A/OA-10 in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He transitioned to the
F-15C in 2009 and the F-35A in 2012 as the only ANG member of the
USAF’s F-35 initial cadre. He transitioned to the F-16C in 2015 upon
joining the Alabama Air National Guard. Colonel Spohn is the recipient of
multiple flying and performance awards, including Arkansas Air National
Guard company grade officer of the year, three MAJCOM IG “Superior
Performer” awards, several Instructor Pilot of the quarter/Instructor Pilot
of the year awards, the Academic Award from USAF Weapons School
and graduated from Air War College with Highest Academic Distinction.
Colonel Spohn is a Command Pilot with more than 2,500 fighter hours,
has deployed multiple times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom,
Iraqi Freedom, Southern Watch and Noble Eagle. He is a Graduate of the
USAF Weapons School, A-10 Division, and has served in the Air National
Guard in the states of Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Florida and Alabama.
Colonel Spohn was born and raised in New Jersey. He is married to the
former Melissa Rofkahr, of Altus, AR. The couple has two children, Holt
and Cosner, and reside in Montgomery, AL.
EDUCATION:
1998 Bachelor of Science – Aircraft Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aero University, Daytona Beach, FL
2006 USAF Weapons School – A-10 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL (correspondence)
2015 Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB, AL (correspondence)
2018 Master of Science – Strategic Studies with Highest Academic Distinction, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL (residence)
2021 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Andrews AFB, MD
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Apr 2000 – Jul 2001, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX.
2. Aug 2001 – Dec 2001, Student, A-10 Basic Qualification Course, Barksdale AFB, LA.
3. Jan 2002 – Dec 2004, A-10 Flight Lead, FAC, Scheduler, 103rd Fighter Squadron, Willow-Grove JRB, PA.
4. Dec 2004 – Dec 2005, A-10 Instructor, FAC, Sandy-1, 103rd Fighter Squadron, Willow-Grove JRB, PA.
5. Jan 2006 – Jun 2006, Student, USAF Weapons School, A-10 Division, Nellis AFB, NV.
6. Jul 2006 – Mar 2007, Wing Weapons and Tactics Officer, 111th Fighter Wing, Willow-Grove JRB, PA.
7. Mar 2007 – Dec 2009, Wing Weapons and Tactics Officer, 188th Fighter Wing, Ebbing ANGB, AR.
8 Dec 2009 – Jul 2010, Student, F-15C Transition/F-15C Pilot, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL.
9. Jul 2010 – Jun 2012, F-15C Pilot, F-35 Initial Cadre, OGV, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, FL.
10. Jul 2012 – Aug 2014, F-35 Instructor/SEFE, Squadron ADO, 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL.
11. Sep 2014 – July 2017, F-16 Flight Lead, FAC, Flight Commander, 100th Fighter Squadron, Dannelly Field, AL.
12. July 2017 – May 2018, Student, Senior Developmental Education, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
13. May 2018 – May 2020, F-16 Instructor Pilot, FAC, 100th Fighter Squadron, Dannelly Field, AL.
14. May 2020 – March 2021, Commander – 187th Operations Support Squadron, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Dannelly Field, AL.
15. March 2021 – August 2022, Commander – 187th Operations Group, F-16 Instructor/Evaluator, Dannelly Field, AL.
16. August 2022 – Present, Vice Commander – 187th Fighter Wing, F-16 Instructor/Evaluator, Dannelly Field, AL
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,500
Aircraft flown: A/OA-10A/A+/C, F-15A/C/D, F-35A, F-16C/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and five oak leaf clusters
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 22 October 1999
First Lieutenant 22 October 2001
Captain 19 November 2003
Major 11 January 2009
Lieutenant Colonel 11 January 2016
Colonel 9 April 2021
(Current as of August 2022)