Col. Chad E. Holesko is the Commander of the 180th Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, located at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport, Swanton, Ohio. As Wing Commander, Col. Holesko leads over 1,100 Airmen supporting an F-16 fighter mission (Air Combat Command) and Aerospace Control Alert mission (NORAD). He is responsible for ensuring the Wing is ready to defend, execute combat operations and sustain follow-on forces.
Col. Holesko was commissioned in 1999 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. He has served in a variety of positions at the squadron and wing levels, with assignments to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and Sheppard AFB, Texas. Col. Holesko joined the 180th Fighter Wing, after serving eight years on Active duty and over two years at the 178th Fighter Wing, Springfield ANG, Ohio. Before transferring to the 180th Fighter Wing in 2010, Col. Holesko served a one-year tour at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, as the F-16/F-35 Combat Forces Action Officer. Col. Holesko is a command pilot with more than 3,500 hours, including nine combat missions, totaling more than 47 combat hours in the F-16.
Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Holesko was assigned as the 180th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Economics, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2006 U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2015 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- November 1999–April 2001, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
- April 2001–January 2002, student, F-16 Replacement Training Unit, Springfield Air National Guard Base Ohio.
- January 2002–August 2004, F-16CJ Pilot and Flight Lead, 55th and 79th Fighter Squadrons, Shaw AFB, S.C. (January 2003 – April 2003, Pilot, 39th Air Expeditionary Wing, 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Incirlik AB, Turkey)
- August 2004–August 2005, F-16CG Instructor Pilot, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
- August 2005–January 2008, T-38 Instructor Pilot, 90th Flight Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
- January 2008–October 2010, Instructor Pilot, 162nd Fighter Squadron and 306 Det., Springfield ANGB, Ohio
- October 2010–November 2011, Scheduler, F-16CM Instructor Pilot, 112th Fighter Squadron, Toledo Air National Guard Base, Ohio (April 2010 – May 2010, Pilot, 180th Fighter Wing,112th Fighter Squadron, Hungary)
- November 2011–November 2012, F-16/F-35 Action Officer, Combat Forces Branch, NGB/A3, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews AFB, Md.
- November 2012–November 2013, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation,180th Operations Group, Toledo Air National Guard Base, Ohio (April 2013 – July 2013, Pilot, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing,112th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa and Azraq AB, Jordan)
- November 2013–November 2014, Director of Operations, Operational Support Squadron, 180th Operations Group, Toledo Air National Guard Base, Swanton, Ohio
- November 2014– January 2017, ACA Commander, 180th Operations Group, Toledo Air National Guard Base, Swanton, Ohio (January 2016 – April 2016, Pilot,112th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Anderson AFB, Guam)
- January 2017–May 2020, Commander, 180th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 180th Maintenance Group, Toledo Air National Guard Base, Ohio (January 2018 – February 2018, Pilot, 112th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Amari AB, Estonia)
- May 2020 – October 2022, Commander, 180th Maintenance Group, Toledo Air National Guard Base, Swanton, Ohio
- October 2022 – Present, Commander, 180th Fighter Wing, Toledo Air National Guard Base, Swanton, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 3,500+
Aircraft Flown: T-37B, T-38A, AT-38B, F-16 AM/BM, F-16C/D, F-16CG/DG, F-16CJ/DJ, F-16CM
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with nine devices
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Ribbon Short
Air and Space Longevity Service Award
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jun. 2, 1999
First Lieutenant Jun. 2, 2001
Captain Jun. 2, 2003
Major Dec. 5, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Sept.17, 2013
Colonel May 26, 2020
(Current as of August 2023)