Colonel Dominic S. Fago is the 178th Wing Commander. As the commander, he executes the remotely piloted aircraft MQ-9 Reaper mission. In addition, he is responsible for the 178th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group missions, which involves close coordination with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Col. Dominic S. Fago was formerly the commander of the 179th Airlift Wing Maintenance Group, Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield, Ohio and was responsible for the generation of safe, reliable C-130H aircraft and expeditionary Airmen to execute the Wing’s global airlift and combat missions. He also served as the commander of the 123rd Air Control Squadron, Cincinnati, Ohio and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the unit. He was a member of the 123rd ACS for 33 years, 24 years as a drill status guardsman. Initially enlisting as a radar maintenance technician, in 1992 he was selected for an officer position and commissioned through the Academy of Military Science. He attended Air Battle Manager training and became a member of the Operations section, where he held multiple positions and eventually ascended to the position of director. In 2009, he was selected as the Chief of Maintenance and held the position for two years. In 2011, he was hired as the Detachment Commander, responsible for all aspects of the mission and 40 full-time personnel. In 2017, he was chosen to be the Commander of the 123rd ACS.
He deployed on eight occasions in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, RESOLUTE SUPPORT and the Air Defense of the Arabian Gulf. Additionally, he has deployed as part of the AFRICOM traveling contact team and multiple drug interdiction assignments.
EDUCATION
1986 Associate of Science, Business Management, Cincinnati Technology College, Cincinnati OH
1986 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
1986 Aircraft Control and Warning Radar School, Keesler AFB, MS
1989 Associate of Science, Electronic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL
1991 Bachelors of Science, Electrical Engineering Technology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
1992 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, TN.
1992 Air Battle Manager School, Tyndall AFB, FL.
2002 Squadron Office School, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2003 Master of Business Administration in Military Management, Touro University, Vallejo CA
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2010 Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, MS.
2011 USAF Cyber Operations Transition Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 Air War College, Montgomery AL, by correspondence
2015 Advanced Joint PME, Norfolk, VA
2020 Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1985-June 1992, Radar Maintenance Technician, 123d Forward Air Control Post, Blue Ash, Ohio
2. June 1992-August 1999, Air Weapons Director, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
3. September 1999-May 2000, Air Weapons Director, 386 Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Ali Al Salem, Kuwait
4. June 2000-January 2002, Operations Training Officer, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
5. February 2002-April 2002, Senior Director, 386 Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Ali Al Salem, Kuwait
6. May 2002-March 2003, Senior Director, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
7. April 2003-December 2003, Senior Director, 606th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Kirkuk, Iraq
8. January 2004-April 2006, Director of Operations, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
9. May 2006-August 2006, CADC, Joint Air Defense Operations Center, Boling AFB, Washington DC
10. September 2006-September 2008, Director of Operations, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
11. October 2008-May 2009, Mission Crew Commander, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Balad, Iraq
12. September 2009-June 2011, Chief of Maintenance, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
13. July 2011-October 2011, Detachment Commander/Director of Operations, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
14. November 2011-June 2012, Mission Crew Commander, 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, undisclosed
15. December 2013-June 2014, Mission Crew Commander, 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, undisclosed
16. April 2016-January 2017, Mission Crew Commander, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Al Dhafra, UAE
17. November 2017-August 2019, Commander, 123d Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio
18. September 2019-Present, Commander, 179th Airlift Wing Maintenance Group, Mansfield, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award with eleven devices
Combat Readiness Medal with ten devices
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two devices
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Short with three devices
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with four devices
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
AF Longevity Service with three devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 'M' Devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with device
AF Training Ribbon
Ohio Faithful Service Ribbon with four devices
Ohio Special Service Ribbon
Ohio Award of Merit with three devices
Ohio National Guard Basic Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Oct. 1, 1985
Airman First Class Feb. 1, 1986
Senior Airman Mar. 1, 1987
Sergeant Jan. 1, 1988
Staff Sergeant Dec. 1, 1989
Second Lieutenant Feb. 1, 1992
First Lieutenant Feb. 1, 1994
Captain Feb. 1, 1996
Major June 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2007
Colonel Sept. 1, 2019
(Current as of November 2021)