Colonel Troy Pierce is the deputy commander of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and the 673d Air Base Wing, JBER, Alaska. The 673d Air Base Wing consists of four groups operating and maintaining the joint base for air sovereignty, combat training, force staging and throughput operations in support of worldwide contingencies. The installation hosts the headquarters for the U.S. Alaskan Command, Eleventh Air Force, 11th Airborne Division, and the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region. The 673d Air Base Wing comprises over 5,500 joint military and civilian personnel, supporting America’s arctic warriors and their families. The wing supports and enables two Air Force total-force wings, an Army division headquarters and brigade, and 55 other major mission partners. In addition, the wing provides medical care to over 35,000 joint service members, dependents, VA patients and retirees throughout Alaska. The 673d Air Base Wing maintains $11.4B in infrastructure encompassing 79,000 acres, ensuring JBER remains America’s premier strategic power-projection platform.
Colonel Pierce entered the Air Force in 2001 after he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The Citadel. Prior to his current assignment he served as the Commander of the 715 Air Mobility Operations Group which provided forward-deployed command and control, aerial port, and aircraft maintenance support to Department of Defense organic and contracted commercial aircraft executing airlift and air refueling missions throughout Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and Australia. His operational and staff assignments include Agile Combat Employment Cross- Functional Team Lead and Airpower Strategist for Headquarters Air Force; Strategic forum planner for Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Future Operations Planner for United States Southern Command; Contingency Response Squadron Commander; and C-130 Formal Training Unit Instructor/Evaluator. Colonel Pierce is a Senior Navigator with more than 2,500 hours in the C-130E/H aircraft.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, The Citadel, Charleston, SC
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, In-Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Squadron Officer School, In-Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Master of Science in Operations Management, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 Command and General Staff College, Correspondence, Ft Leavenworth, KS
2013 Air Command and Staff College, In- Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, In-Residence, Norfolk, VA
2015 Air War College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2021 Master of Strategic Studies, Marine Corps War College, Quantico, VA
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 2001 – 2002 Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, 562d Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
2. 2003 - 2006 C-130H Instructor Navigator, 517th Air Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK
3. 2006 - 2009 C-130E FTU Evaluator Navigator, 62d Air Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR
4. 2009 – 2001 Chief of Stan/Eval & Airlift Planner, 15th Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
5. 2001 – 2012 Wing Executive Officer, 615th Contingency Response Wing, Travis AFB, CA
6. 2012 – 2013 Operations Officer, 571st Global Mobility Response Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
7. 2013 – 2014 Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
8. 2014 – 2017 Future Operations Air Planner, USSOUTHCOM, Miami, FL
9. 2017 – 2018 Commander, 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
10. 2018 – 2019 Commander, 821st Contingency Response Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
11. 2019 – 2020 Lead Planner, SecAF/CSAF Strategic Execution Group, Pentagon, VA
12. 2020 – 2021 Student, Marine Corps War College, Quantico, VA
13. 2021 – 2022 Airpower Strategist/Branch Chief, Future Operating Concepts, AF A5/7, Pentagon, VA
14. 2022 – 2023 Team Leader-Agile Combat Employment Cross Functional Team, AF A5/7, Pentagon, VA
15. 2023 – 2025 Commander, 715th Air Mobility Operations Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
16. 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 673d Air Base Wing and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator Flight hours: Over 2,500 Aircraft Flown: C-130E/H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, with 1 Oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal, with 2 Oak leaf clusters Air Medal, with 1 Oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal, with 2 Oak leaf clusters Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, with Valor Device and 4 Oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border Air Force Longevity Service
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant August 23, 2001
First Lieutenant August 23, 2003
Captain August 23, 2005
Major October 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2016
Colonel August 1, 2022
(Current as of July 2025