Colonel Jonathan M. Edwards is Commander of the 183d Air Operations Group, 183d Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield, Illinois. He is responsible for providing highly trained Air Force Component Headquarters Command and Control Airmen to augment AOC and AFFOR staffs worldwide at the operational level of war. The 183d Air Operations Group is aligned to augment 12th AF’s (AFSOUTH) 612th Air Operations Center and AFFOR staff while supporting U.S. Southern Command in its role to conduct theater engagement, security cooperation and full spectrum operational requirements throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America. The AOG State Mission is to always be ready to provide military support to state agencies, local governments and other civil authorities responsible for ensuring public health and safety of the citizens of Illinois, preventing loss or damage of property, and preserving peace and order within the State.
Colonel Edwards was commissioned in 2002 through Air Force ROTC after graduating from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. Colonel Edwards’ active duty assignments include the 1st Space Operations Squadron and 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever Air Force Bae (AFB), Colo., 1st Space Control Squadron, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station (AFS), Colo., and 614th Air & Space Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. In 2009, Colonel Edwards first joined the Illinois Air National Guard as a Traditional Guardsman in the 183d Combat Operations Squadron and then transferred the 183d Air Component Operations Squadron (ACOS) in 2019. Colonel Edwards is a career space officer, strategist, and joint planner with over 19 years’ experience. He is a veteran of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL, the Resolute Support Mission, and the Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf.
As a civilian, Colonel Edwards has been an Analyst with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) since 2009.
EDUCATION:
2002 Bachelor of Arts, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
2003 Undergraduate Space Training (Space 100), Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
2006 Masters of Science, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Distinguished Graduate)
2009 Combat Operations Division Initial Qualification Course, Air Operations Center, Hurlburt AFB, Fla.
2012 Space 200, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Masters of Science, National Intelligence University, Washington D.C.
2015 Strategy Division Initial Qualification Course, Air Operations Center, Hurlbert AFB, Fla.
2019 Contingency Wartime Planning Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS:
June 2002 – October 2002, Administrative Officer, ROTC Detachment 205, Carbondale, Ill.
October 2002 – July 2003, Student, Undergraduate Space Training, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
July 2003 – April 2004, Deputy Crew Commander, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
April 2004 – November 2004, Crew Commander, 1st Space Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
November 2004 – October 2006, Chief of Education & Training, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
October 2006 – March 2007, Executive Officer, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
March 2007 – March 2008, Space Surveillance Director, 1st Space Control Squadron, Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colo.
March 2008 – May 2009, Chief, Conjunction Assessment, 614th Air & Space Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
May 2009 – October 2009, Chief, Launch Protection, 614th Air & Space Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
October 2009 – February 2015, Chief, Defensive Space Operations, 183d Combat Operations Squadron, Springfield, Ill.
February 2015 – January 2018, Strategy Division Chief, 183d Combat Operations Squadron, Springfield, Ill.
February 2016 – January 2021, Chief, Functional Plans, 18th Air Force A5 & Air Mobility Command A5/8, Scott AFB, Ill.
January 2018 – May 2019, Chief of Plans and Strategy, 183d Combat Operations Squadron, Springfield, Ill.
May 2019 – April 2021, A3 Director, 183d Air Component Operations Squadron, Springfield, Ill. (January 2020 – August 2020, Strategy Plans Chief, 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base (AB), Qatar)
Apr 2021 – 6 November 2023, Commander, 183d Air Component Operations Squadron, Springfield, Ill.
7 November – Present, Commander, 183d Air Operations Group, Springfield Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2022 ACOS named as the Air National Guard recipient of the Verne Orr Award. The award, established by the Air Force Association in honor of former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr, recognizes an Air Force unit that makes the most effective use of its human resources.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major Sept. 11, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel July 24, 2015
Colonel May 27, 2021
(Current as of January 2024)