Col. Donald R. Braskett serves as the wing commander of the 178th Wing, located in Springfield, Ohio. As the commander, he holds the pivotal responsibility of steering the execution of multiple complex mission sets critical to national security and operational readiness. His leadership encompasses the primary missions of Remotely Piloted Aircraft operations, Air Control Squadron operations, as well as the advanced sectors such as Cyber, Geospatial, Space, and Signals Intelligence. With a career dedicated to exemplary military service and strategic leadership, Braskett has significantly contributed to the enhancement of warfare capabilities and the integration of cutting-edge technologies in defense operations.
He joined the 160th Air Refueling Group in 1986, assigned to the Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, as a crew chief on the KC-135E. He graduated from Capital University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and was awarded a Masters of Military Art and Science degree in 2011. Braskett was a Graduate at the Academy of Military Science in 1995. He attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, followed by KC-135R flight training at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. He returned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio located at Rickenbacker International Airport, as a traditional guardsman. He has served as a First Officer with a major American airline and worked as a dual status military technician with the 121st ARW in a multitude of roles to include: current operations planner, 166th Air Refueling Squadron ground training officer, 121st ARW chief of wing plans, 166th Air Refueling Squadron operations officer, 121st Operations Support Squadron commander, 121st Maintenance Group commander, 121st deputy commander, director of staff-JFHQ, and 178th deputy commander. He participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, Joint Forge, Allied Force, Noble Eagle, Northern and Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. He is a command pilot with over 4,000 hours in T-3, T-37, T-38, and KC-135R/T aircraft.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio
1995 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard, Tenn.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Correspondence
2011 Masters, Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2016 Air War College, Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- October 1986 - March 1995, Aircraft Mechanic, 160th Air Refueling Group/121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker International Airport, Ohio
- April 1995 – Jul 1996, Undergraduate Pilot Trainee, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
- Jul 1996 – Dec 2007, KC-135R Pilot, 145th Air Refueling Squadron, Rickenbacker International Airport, Ohio
- Jan 2008 – Feb 2014, Chief of Plans, 121st ARW, Rickenbacker International Airport, Ohio
- Mar 2014 – Feb 2015, Assistant Operations Officer, 166th ARS, Rickenbacker Intl. Airport, Ohio
- Mar 2015 - Dec 2018, Squadron Operations Officer, 166th ARS, Rickenbacker Intl. Airport, Ohio
- Jan 2019 - Aug 2019, Operations Support Squadron Commander, 121st ARW, Rickenbacker Int Airport, Ohio
- Sep 2019 - Nov 2021, Maintenance Group Commander, 121st ARW, Rickenbacker Int Airport, Ohio
- Dec 2021 - May 2023, Deputy Commander, 121st ARW, Rickenbacker Int Airport, Ohio
- May 2023 - Mar 2024, Director of Staff - Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Beightler Armory, Ohio
- Mar 2024 - April 2024, Deputy Commander, 178th Wing, Springfield, Ohio
- April 2024 - Present, Commander, 178th Wing, Springfield, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal with Bronze Service Star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Overseas Ribbon
Short Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
AF Longevity Service with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 4 Hourglass and 2 'M' Devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with Bronze Service Star
AF Training Ribbon with Oak Leaf Cluster
Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 20, 1995
First Lieutenant April 20, 1997
Captain Jun. 22, 1999
Major Jul. 5, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel Jul. 5, 2010
Colonel 30 Sept 2020
(Current as of April 2024)