Lieutenant Colonel James M. Law is the Commander of the 179th Operations Group, Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield, Ohio. The 179th Operations Group is comprised of more than 150 Air National Guard members flying and supporting the operations of eight assigned C-130H aircraft. As the commander, he is responsible for all aspects of the group in support of the Air Mobility Command and the 179th Airlift Wing’s worldwide airlift mission.
Lt. Col Law joined Active Duty in 2000 and was stationed at Dover AFB as a Metal Technology specialist. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology. In 2004, he joined the 911th Airlift Wing Air Reserve Station in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Seton Hill University in 2005 with a Master of Business Administration in Management. Later that year, Lt Col Law was selected to be a C-130H Navigator and graduated from Officer Training School (OTS) Maxwell AFB in 2006. He attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Randolph AFB, Texas, followed by C-130E/H flight training at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. He returned to the 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station in 2008 as a traditional reservist. In 2013, he joined the 179th Airlift Wing, assigned as a dual-status military technician Instructor Navigator on the C-130H aircraft. Lt Col Law served in a multitude of roles to include: Chief of Tactics, Chief Navigator, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, 164th Airlift Squadron Director of Operations and previously 179th Operations Support Squadron Commander.
Lt. Col Law participated in multiple deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Freedom Sentinel, Inherent Resolve, and Spartan Shield. He has a Master Navigator rating with over 3200 hours in the T-43A and C-130E/H aircraft.
EDUCATION
2000 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2001 Associate of Applied Science, Community College of the Air Force- Denver, CO
2003 Bachelor of Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
2004 Airman Leadership School, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2005 Master of Business Administration, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
2006 Officer Training School (OTS) Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL
2007 Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, TX
2008 FTU Qualified C-130H Navigator, Little Rock AFB, AR
2012 C-130H Instructor Navigator School, Little Rock AFB, AR
2013 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2016 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
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ASSIGNMENTS
- May 2001 – November 2003, Metal Technology specialist, 436th AW, Dover AFB, DE
- November 2003 – February 2006, Metal Technology specialist, 911th Airlift Wing ARS Pittsburgh, PA
- July 2006 – July 2007, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, TX
- July 2007 – August 2012, C-130H Navigator, 911th Airlift Wing ARS Pittsburgh, PA
- September 2012 – October 2013, C-130H Instructor Navigator, 910th Airlift Wing ARS Youngstown, OH
- November 2013 – October 2018, Chief of Tactics, 179th Operations Support Squadron, Mansfield, Ohio
- November 2018 – October 2019, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, 179th Operations Group, Mansfield, Ohio
- November 2019 – January 2021, Director of Operations, 164th Airlift Squadron, Mansfield, Ohio
- February 2021 – November 2021, Squadron Commander, 179th Operations Support Squadron, Mansfield, Ohio
- December 2021 – Present, Operations Group Commander, 179th Operations Group, Mansfield, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device
Combat Readiness Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign 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 Expeditionary Service Ribbon
AF Longevity Service
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 'M' Devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
AF Training Ribbon
Ohio Commendation Medal
Ohio Faithful Service Ribbon
Ohio Special Service Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic Sep. 26, 2000
Airman Mar. 26, 2001
Airman First Class Jan. 26, 2002
Senior Airman Sept. 26, 2003
Staff Sergeant Nov. 1, 2004
Second Lieutenant May 18, 2006
First Lieutenant May 18, 2008
Captain May 18, 2010
Major June 16, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel June 21, 2019
(Current as of January 2022)