Colonel Col. Cynthia Welch

Col. Cynthia A. Welch is the Commander of the 931st Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The wing reports to 4th Air Force, March Air  Reserve Base, California, and is an Air Force Reserve KC-46A Pegasus associate unit working alongside the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB. In conjunction with the 22nd ARW, the 931st ARW supports Air Mobility Command’s worldwide air refueling mission, meeting the air refueling needs of all U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine and selected allied nations’ aircraft. In addition, they supplement AMC’s strategic airlift capability. Furthermore, members of the 931st ARW are engaged in a cross section of combat support services for all U.S. military branches in times of peace, war and national emergency within the United States and abroad. 

Welch attended San Diego State University, San Diego, California. She received her commission through the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in 1998. She is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours in numerous aircraft. Prior to her current assignment, Colonel Welch served as the commander of the 446th Operations Group,Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. As the 446th OG Commander, she provided combatant commanders worldwide with strategic airlift support including aeromedical evacuation and Antarctic resupply operations.

EDUCATION: 
1994 Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California

2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence

2014 Master of Military Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. June 1998 - June 1999, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. August 1999 - October 1999, Student, C-5 Formal Training Unit, 356th Airlift Squadron, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
3. October 1999 - January 2001, C-5 Strategic Airlift Pilot, 312th Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, California
4. January 2001 - October 2002, Assistant Operations Officer, 312th Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, California
5. October 2002 - July 2007, Assistant Chief Pilot, C-5 Aircraft Commander, 709th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
6. August 2007 - November 2007, Student, Distinguished Graduate C-17 Training, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
7. December 2007 - March 2009, Assistant Operations Officer and C-17 pilot, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
8. April 2009 - June 2010, Assistant Chief of Training, C-17 Aircraft Commander, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
9. July 2010 - July 2011, Assistant Chief of training, C-17 Instructor Aircraft Commander, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
10. May 2012 - May 2013, Chief of Training and C-17 Instructor Pilot, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
11. May 2013 - September 2015, Chief Readiness Operations, Headquarters Fourth Air Force, March ARB, California
12. September 2015 – October 2020, Operations Officer, 301st Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, California
13. October 2020 – June 2023, Commander, 446th Operations Group, McChord AFB, Washington
14. June 2023 – Present, Commander, 931st Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kansas

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot

Flight hours: More than 5,000 including more than 530 combat and 180 combat support hours Aircraft flown: C-5A, C-5B, C-5C, C-17A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: 
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Medal with oak leaf cluster

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' device

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant April 24, 1998

First Lieutenant April 24, 2000

Captain Oct. 1, 2002

Major Oct. 1, 2009

Lieutenant Colonel, Oct. 1, 2016

Colonel March 30, 2022

(Current as of September 2023)