Colonel William P. Robertson is the 182d Airlift Wing Commander. He is responsible for over 1200 Traditional and Full-Time Illinois Air National Guardsmen. He is responsible for maintaining the combat readiness of the 182d Airlift Wing. Col Robertson also ensures that all units are able to fulfill State and Federal missions as directed by the appropriate authorities..

Colonel Robertson attended Peoria High School, Illinois Central College and Bradley University in Peoria, IL. Col Robertson began his military career in 1980 by enlisting in the Illinois Air National Guard as a Security Policeman while attending Illinois Central College. He graduated from Bradley University in 1983. He was selected for pilot training by the 182d Tactical Air Support Group and attended the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, TN and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) in 1983 at Williams AFB, AZ. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 182d Tactical Air Support Group, 169th Tactical Air Support Squadron as a Forward Air Controller flying the A-37B Dragonfly.

He has served in several capacities throughout the 182d TASG. He was mobilized during Desert Storm and served with the 155th Armor Brigade Mississippi Army National Guard as an Air Liaison Officer (ALO). Upon demobilization following Desert Storm he was sent to Tucson, AZ to begin the unit conversion to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The unit was later again selected for conversion in 1994 for conversion to the C-130 Hercules and was re-designated the 182d Airlift Wing. He was involved in setting up the infrastructure in the operations section for the C-130. He also served as the Commander, 486th Expeditionary Operations Group during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He oversaw the employment of 20 C-130 aircraft in operations to support US Forces engaged during the conflict. Col Robertson is a Command Pilot with over 4200 hours of flying several different aircraft. He has flown the T-41, T-37B, T-38, A-37B, C-26, AT-38B, F-16 and C-130. He has been a Flight lead, Standardization/Evaluation Flight Examiner, Instructor Pilot and Functional Test Flight Pilot. Colonel Robertson has served as the Weapons and Tactics Officer, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Training Officer, Scheduling Officer and Current Operations Officer.

He is married and has three children.

EDUCATION:
1981 Associates Degree, Illinois Central College, Police Science Technology

1983 Bachelors of Science Degree, Administration of Criminal Justice, Bradley University, Peoria, IL

1988 Squadron Officer School

1996 Air Command and Staff College

2000 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL

ASSIGNMENTS:

1980 Enlisted Illinois Air National Guard, Security Policeman

1983 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams AFB, AZ

1984 Assigned as Forward Air Controller 182d Tactical Air Support Group, Illinois Air National Guard

1985 Scheduling Officer and Training Officer (A-37B), 182d Tactical Air Support Group, Peoria, IL

1986 Chief Weapons and Tactics (A-37B), 182d Tactical Air Support Group, Peoria, IL

1988 Chief Standardization and Evaluation (A-37B), 182 Tactical Air Support Group, Peoria, IL

1992 Chief Weapons and Tactics (F-16), 182d Fighter Group

1994 Chief Current Operations (C-130), 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL

1996 Commander, 182d Operations Group, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria, IL

2004 Commander, 182d Airlift Wing

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Aircraft Flown: T-41, T-37, T-38, A-37B, C-26, AT-38B, F-16, And C-130

Hours: 4500


MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award/ w/valor
Combat Readiness Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
AF Short Tour Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
Illinois Long and Honorable Service Ribbon Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon
Illinois Abraham Lincoln Freedom Medal
Illinois Attendance Ribbon
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

Top Gun 1989

Top Gun 1990

Outstanding Academic Achievement, Blue Thunder, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ � 1986


Current as of 18 May 2011