Active Military Operations

Air Traffic Control

Apr 2015 - Present

235th Combat Airfield Operations Squadron

Air Traffic Controller (AFSC 1C1X1)

Serves as an Air Traffic Controller with the 235th CAOS, supporting expeditionary and domestic airfield missions across the full tower control spectrum.

235th CAOS team members LZSO operations in Germany

01 // The Problem

Airfield operations in expeditionary environments require controllers who can establish and manage safe, efficient airspace with limited infrastructure, often at austere locations under operational pressure.

02 // Approach

I transferred into the 235th ATCS in April 2015 following TACP service with the 118th ASOS and built the role in stages.

The progression looked like this:

  1. complete formal ATC Specialist training at Keesler AFB
  2. qualify as a tower controller and build operational experience across domestic training and international missions
  3. maintain readiness and currency through recurring unit training, exercises, and real-world airfield operations as the squadron expanded into the broader CAOS mission

That foundation is what the later LZSO, Air Advisor, and AOC Combat Airspace qualifications all built on.

03 // Outcome

The ATC track has sustained:

  • long-term qualification as a tower controller
  • safe airfield operations support in both home-station and expeditionary environments
  • a technical foundation for later SEI qualifications including LZSO, Air Advisor, and AOC Combat Airspace