Colonel Charles “Shell” Schuck is the commander of the 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The 3rd Wing provides the commander, U.S. Pacific Command, trained and equipped tactical air dominance forces, command and control platforms, and strategic and tactical airlift resources for contingency operations and also provides the commander, U.S. Northern Command, immediate early airborne detection, warning, surveillance and interception of hostile forces within the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region. The wing flies F-22, C-17, C-12 and E-3 aircraft and is responsible for over 2,200 assigned Airmen.
Schuck graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and received his commission as a distinguished graduate in 2002. He was a Distinguished Graduate from Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, in 2003, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons school, commanded the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Virginia, and graduated from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) of National Defense University in 2019. His service and leadership span several key operational and staff positions at the Squadron, Group, Wing, Major Command and Combatant Command levels. Prior to his current assignment, Schuck served as the commander of the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB, Florida.
His deployments include Panama City, Panama; Okinawa, Japan; and Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates
EDUCATION:
2002 Distinguished graduate, Bachelor of Science, in Economics, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2009 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, in Residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 United States Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, F-22A, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2012 Master of Arts, in Education, Trident University International, Cypress, Calif.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Master of Science, in Joint Operational Planning and Strategy, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.
2022 Executive Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carlina-Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. July 2002 – January 2004, Student Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 25th Flying Training Sq, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. February 2004 – August 2004, Student, F-15C Basic Course, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla
3. September 2004 – December 2006, F15C 4-Ship Flight Lead, 71st Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
4. January 2007 – June 2009, F-22A Instructor Pilot, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
5. June 2009 – December 2011, F-22A FTU Instructor Pilot and Weapons Officer, 43rd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla
6. January 2012 – July 2014, F-22A Weapons School Instructor & Evaluator Pilot, 433rd Weapons Squadron, Nellis FB, Nev.
7. August 2014 - April 2015, Director of Ops/F-22A Weapons School Instructor Pilot, 433rd Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. April 2015 – June 2016, Chief, ACC Senior Leader Management, ACC/A1, Langley AFB, Va.
9. June 2016 – December 2016, Special Assistant to the 1 OG/CC, Langley AFB, Va.
10. December 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
11. April 2017 – October 2017, Commander, 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates
12. June 2018 – June 2019, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, National Defense University, Norfolk, Va.
13. June 2019 – July 2020, Joint Planner & Dep Branch Chief, U.S. Central Command, Operations Directorate, MacDill AFB, Fla.
14. July 2020 – April 2021, Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. April 2021 – July 2022, Vice Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, Okla.
16. August 2022 – June 2024, Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
17. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2019 – April 2021, Joint Planner, Deputy Branch Chief, and Executive Officer to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla (as Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel)
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Hours Flown: More than 2,100 (292 Combat)
Aircraft Flown: F-22A, F-35A, F-15C/D, T-38A/C, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit, 1 OLC
Meritorious Service Medal, 4 OLC
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award, 1 OLC
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
INHERENT RESOLVE Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant – May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant – May 29, 2004
Captain – May 29, 2006
Major – Mar 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel – January 1, 2016
Colonel – Mar 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2024)