Col. Johnny L. West is the commander of the 28th Maintenance Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, where he directs all flight line and heavy maintenance efforts of the 28th Bomb Wing to ensure the readiness of Ellsworth's B-1B Lancer bombers to support daily flying activities, exercises deployments and wartime taskings. He oversees the production of a 1,500-person group with three squadrons and is responsible for aerospace and munitions maintenance required to ensure balance between wing sortie production and fleet management. He ensures standardization of maintenance discipline, policies, procedures, safety compliance and maintenance management philosophy.
Col. West entered the Air Force in 1991 as a Munitions Systems Apprentice. After six years of enlisted service, Col. West entered Baylor University’s ROTC program and received his commission in 2001.
He has held numerous operational assignments as squadron commander and operations officer in both the conventional munitions and aircraft maintenance disciplines. Col. West has supported multiple aircraft from Pacific Air Forces and Air Combat Command to include the F-15, F-16, F-22, A-10, and now Air Force Global Strike Command’s B-1B.
While assigned to Headquarters Air Force AF/A8 Munitions Planning in Washington D.C., Col. West planned and programmed the Air Force’s $103.4 billion Ground Precision Attack portfolio. He developed and staffed numerous responses to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force, Department of Defense, and Congressional inquiries concerning the Air Force’s Future Years Defense Program and the 30-year Resource Allocation Plan.
Prior to his current assignment, Col. West served as the Deputy Director for Logistics and Engineering at Indo-Pacific Command, J4, Camp Smith, Hawaii, where he provided recommendations to the INDOPACOM Commander, and other component commanders, for the most effective and efficient way to execute assigned operational plans.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Master of Military Strategy, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2001 - December 2003, Munitions Flight Commander, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
2. January 2004 - January 2005, Maintenance Operations Officer, 51st Munitions Squadron, Osan Air Base, ROK
3. February 2005 - August 2006, 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Langley AFB, Va.
4. September 2006 - May 2007, Maintenance Flight Commander, 1st EMS, Langley AFB, Va.
5. June 2007 - August 2008, Officer in Charge, Quality Assurance, 1st Maintenance Group, Langley AFB, Va.
6. September 2008 - July 2009, Chief, Munitions C2 Systems, Global Cyberspace Integration Ctr, Langley AFB, Va.
7. August 2009 - March 2011, Maintenance Operations Officer, 28th Munitions Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
8. April 2011 - May 2012, Maintenance Operations Officer, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
9. June 2012 - April 2014, Commander, 649th Munitions Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
10. May 2014 - June 2015, Commander, 8th AMXS, Kunsan AB, ROK
11. July 2015 - June 2017, Chief, Munitions Branch, J4 US Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, ROK
12. July 2017 - May 2019, Chief, Munitions Planning, AF/A8X Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. June 2019 - June 2020, Deputy Commander, 18th Maintenance Group, Kadena AB, Japan
14. July 2020 - June 2021, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. July 2021 - June 2022, Chief, Joint Munitions Office, INDOPACOM J43, Camp Smith, Hawaii
16. July 2022 – May 2023, Deputy Director, INDOPACOM J4, Camp Smith, Hawaii
17. June 2023 – Present, Commander, 28th Maintenance Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Short
Air and Space Longevity Service with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major June 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2016
Colonel Sep 1, 2022
(Current as of June 2023)