Col. Ian Chase serves as the deputy commander of the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. The wing is authorized six HC-130J tanker aircraft and 15 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to support worldwide combat-search-and-rescue operations. The wing comprises approximately 2,000 personnel assigned to four groups, 18 squadrons, three flights, a headquarters section as well as three geographically separated units in Arizona, Virginia and Oregon. The colonel provides leadership, management and supervision and is responsible for the organization, training and equipping of the wing.
Col. Chase received his commission as a 1989 graduate from North Carolina State University. He has deployed in support of Operations Uphold Democracy, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, and served as commander, Joint Special Operations Air Component, Special Operations Command - Africa, Stuttgart, Germany. Prior to his current position, the colonel served as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director of Air, Space and Information Operations, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2007 Special Operations Liaison Element (SOLE) Staff Officer Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2008 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Mission Commander's Course (MCC), Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2010 Master of Business Administration, Trident University International, Cypress, Calif.
2016 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1990–December 1991, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather Air Force Base, Calif.
2. December 1991–September 1993, C-141B, Tactical Navigator, 20th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
3. September 1993–December 1993, C-141B, Tactical Navigator, 15th AS, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. December 1993–October 1994, C-141B Special Operations Low Level II Navigator, 16th AS, Charleston AFB, S.C.
5. October 1994–May 1995, C-141B Instructor/SOLL II Navigator, 16th AS, Charleston AFB, S.C.
6. May 1995–April 1996, C-141B Evaluator/SOLL II Navigator, 16th AS, Charleston AFB, S.C.
7. April 1996–October 1997, SOLL II Navigator Planner, 437th Operations Group Special Operations Division, Charleston AFB, S.C.
8. October 1997–March 2002, MC-130E Navigator, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Eglin Field 3, Fla. (October 2001-December 2001, SOJTF Planner)
9. March 2002–August 2002, MC-130E Instructor and Chief Navigator, 711th SOS, Eglin Field 3, Fla. (March 2002-July 2002, MC-130E Navigator)
10. August 2002–February 2004, MC-130E Evaluator Navigator and Chief of Current Operations, 711th SOS, Eglin Field 3, Fla. (April 2003-June 2003, MC-130E Navigator)
11. February 2004–January 2006, Chief, Operations Training, 711th SOS, Eglin Field 3, Fla. (November 2005, MC-130E Navigator)
12. January 2006–December 2008, Assistant Director of Operations, 711th SOS, Eglin Field 3, Fla. (July 2007-September 2007, MC-130E Navigator)
13. December 2008–July 2009, Air Force Reserve Plan and Programs Integrator, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
14. July 2009–May 2010, Program Analyst, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. May 2010– January 2011, Chief, Program Strategy Division, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. January 2011–April 2012, Senior Program Analyst, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla. (January 2011-April 2011, Deputy Special Operations Liaison Element, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
17. April 2012–September 2014, Chief, Total Force Integration, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
18. July 2012–September 2014, Chief, Force Structure Branch, AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (March 2013-August 2013, Commander, JSOAC Africa, Kelley Barracks, Germany)
19. September 2014–October 2014, Individual Mobilization Augmentee, Special Operations Combat Systems Operator, AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
20. October 2014–August 2017, IMA to the Director, Directorate of Air, Space and Information Operations, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
21. August 2017-present, Deputy Commander, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2008–July 2009, Air Force Reserve Plan and Programs Integrator, Joint Reserve Office, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2009–May 2010, Program Analyst, Program Strategy Division, J-8 Directorate for Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel
3. May 2010–January 2011, Chief, Program Strategy Division, J-8, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel
4. January 2011–April 2012, Senior Program Analyst, Program Strategy Division, J-8, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: master navigator
Flight hours: more than 4,200 (including more than 400 combat hours)
Aircraft flown: HC-130J, HC-130P/N, MC-130E, C-141B, C-130, T-43 and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Gallant Unit Citation
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Reserve Officers Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant March 3, 1990
First Lieutenant March 3, 1992
Captain March 3, 1994
Major April 20, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel April 20, 2008
Colonel July 1, 2014
(Current as of September 2023)