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.
Worth noting
A few things I would call out
- Completed Air Traffic Control Specialist training at Keesler AFB, May 2016, and qualified as a tower controller supporting expeditionary and domestic airfield missions.
- Maintains currency and readiness across tower, ground control, and approach control environments across domestic and international mission profiles.
- Served through the unit's redesignation from the 235th ATCS to the 235th CAOS, reflecting an expanded combat airfield operations mission.
01 // What was getting in the way
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 // What I did
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:
- complete formal ATC Specialist training at Keesler AFB
- qualify as a tower controller and build operational experience across domestic training and international missions
- 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 // What changed
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