Colonel Adam G. Wiggins

Col. Adam G. Wiggins serves as the 143d Airlift Wing commander for the Rhode Island Air National Guard, at Quonset Air National Guard Base, North Kingstown, Rhode Island. As the wing commander, he oversees all C130J combat airlift, combat communications, and cyberspace defense operations, as well as the wing's 1100 military and civilian personnel.

Col. Wiggins is a 1995 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, who earned his Air Force commission through Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 115. In September 1995 he began Undergraduate Navigator training at Randolph AFB, TX, and in June 1996 he proceeded to Pensacola NAS, FL, where he received his Air Force Navigator rating. His training continued at Joint Aviation Electronic Warfare School, Cory Station, FL, followed by his first assignment with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL, as an Electronic Warfare Officer flying the MC-130E Combat Talon I. As an Instructor and Evaluator EWO with the 8th SOS, Col. Wiggins performed in combat, combat support, and training roles throughout Central and South America, North Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. Col. Wiggins joined the 143 AS, RIANG, in December of 2002. Upon completing pilot training, Columbus AFB, MS, in 2004 as a Distinguished Graduate, he proceeded to C-130J qualification training at Little Rock AFB, AR. Following C-130 training he returned to the 143d Airlift Squadron where he served as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot, evaluator pilot as well as Chief of Current Operations, Chief Pilot, Director of Operations, Commander, 143d Airlift Squadron, Commander 143d Operations Group, and Vice Commander 143d Airlift Wing.

During his tenure, Col. Wiggins accumulated over 5,600 flying hours in the MC-130E, and C-130J model aircraft. He flew relief missions and commanded the RIANG's airlift response following Hurricanes Katrina, Irma, Jose and Maria, as well as USAFE support missions in Europe and Africa for JOINT FORGE and JOINT ENTERPRISE. He also served as Mission Commander for CORONET OAK operations out of Puerto Rico. Col. Wiggins trained pilots from India, Iraq, Norway, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, to operate the C-130J in a combat environment. He served as Assistant Director of Operations, 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Afghanistan, the largest airlift squadron in theater at that time, and Commander, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Kuwait, the largest theater tactical airlift commitment spanning 15 countries. Most recently, Col. Wiggins served as the Commander 385th Air Expeditionary Group, Qatar, where he led AMC’s only CENTCOM Combat Group. He was directly responsible for AMC’s only deployed C-17 squadron, the largest C-130 squadron, the largest KC-135 operation and the largest maintenance squadron in theater. He is a combat veteran of Operations DESERT THUNDER, DESERT STRIKE, SOUTHERN WATCH, DESERT FOX, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, INHERENT RESOLVE, SPARTAN SHIELD, and RESOLUTE SUPPORT.

EDUCATION:
1995 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 1995–1996 Navigator Core Training, 558th Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
1996 Intermediate Naval Flight Officer School, Training Air Wing 6, NAS Pensacola, FL 1996 Joint Aviation Electronic Warfare School, NTTC Corry Station, FL
2001 Squadron Officer School, in residence, Maxwell AFB, AL 2003–2004 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS
2005 C-130J JMATS Pilot Initial/Mission Qualification Training, Little Rock AFB, AR 2005 Night Vision Goggle Instructor School, Luke AFB, AZ
2008 Joint Precision Airdrop System Course, Littlerock AFB, AR
2008 Mobility Electronic Combat Officer Course, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, St Joseph, MO
2009 Air Force Financial Management and Fiscal Law Course, CCRI, RI
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL 2010 C-130J JMATS Instructor Pilot Training, Little Rock AFB, AR
2014 Air War College, in residence, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL

ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Sep 1995 – Jun 1996, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, TX
2. Jun 1996 – September 1996, Intermediate Naval Flight Officer School, Training Air Wing 6, NAS Pensacola, FL
3. September 1996 – February 1997, Joint Aviation Electronic Warfare School, NTTC Corry Station, FL
4. February 1997 – December 2000, Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer, Chief of Mobility, 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
5. December 2000 – December 2001, Evaluator Electronic Warfare Officer, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field and Duke Field, FL
6. December 2001 – December 2002, Air Operations Officer, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL
7. December 2002 – October 2003, Pilot Candidate, Drop Zone Control Officer, 143d Airlift Squadron, North Kingstown, RI
8. October 2003 – November 2004, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Senior Ranking Officer, Class 05-02, 41st Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, MS
9. November 2004 – June 2005, C-130J Initial/Mission Qualification Training, 48th Flying Training Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR
10. June 2005 – June 2008, C-130J Pilot, 143d Airlift Squadron, North Kingstown, RI
11. June 2008 – August 2008, Assistant Director of Operations, 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
12. August 2008 – December 2008, C-130J Joint Precision Airdrop System Subject Matter Expert, 143d Operations Group, North Kingstown, RI
13. December 2008 – November 2010, Chief of Current Operations, Resource Advisor, 143d Operations Group, North Kingstown, RI
14. November 2010 – February 2012, Chief Pilot, 143d Airlift Squadron, North Kingstown, RI
15. February 2012 – February 2016, Director of Operations, 143d Airlift Squadron, North Kingstown, RI
16. February 2016 – April 2018, Commander, 143d Airlift Squadron, North Kingstown, RI
17. July 2016 – September 2016, Commander, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
18. April 2018 – Jan 2020, Commander, 143d Operations Group, North Kingstown, RI
19. Mar 2019 – Jul 2019, Commander, 385th Air Expeditionary Group, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
20. Jan 2020 – Aug 2020, Vice Commander, 143d Airlift Wing, North Kingstown, RI
21. Aug 2020 – Present, Commander, 143d Airlift Wing, North Kingstown, RI

FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot, Senior Navigator Flight Hours: Over 5,600
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-37, T-39, T-1, MC-130E, WC-130J, C-130J, C-130J-30

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster) Air Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Aerial Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) Air Force Commendation (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters) Air Force Achievement (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Gallant Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Award (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with Valor Device and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Star) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 1 Bronze Star) Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Stars) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 6 ‘M’ Devices)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Star) Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal (with 1 Bronze Star)


EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant: 21 Jul 1995
First Lieutenant: 21 Jul 1997
Captain: 21 Jul 1999
Major: 26 May 2004
Lieutenant Colonel: 26 May 2011
Colonel: 8 April 2018

(Current as of August 2020)