Colonel Shawn D. Strahle currently holds the position of Wing Commander at the 183d Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. In this role, he oversees various wing programs and provides guidance and support in enhancing the wing's combat readiness. Col Strahle also serves as the senior cyberspace officer for the Illinois National Guard.
From May 2019 to September 2023, Colonel Strahle served as the J/G/A6 Communications Director at the ILNG JFHQ. During this period, he provided daily oversight and management of the JFHQ-State Information Management (IM) directorate, aligning its efforts with the priorities of the Air and Army National Guard. Colonel Strahle played a crucial role in developing IT policies and procedures to achieve the missions of both the ILARNG and ILANG while contributing to the organization's cyber strategic planning. During this time Col Strahle led the development of the first ILNG Joint Cyber Team which provided critical cybersecurity operations supporting the state of IL election system. He provided critical DOMOPS communications support for multiple operation responses including flood duty, winter storm, civil disturbance, cyber operations, and COVID-19.
From January 2017 to September 2020, Colonel Strahle commanded the 217th Engineering Installation Squadron (EIS) at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. He led a team of 109 Airmen, ensuring the squadron's readiness to mobilize and deploy resources and equipment in support of theater and tactical forces. Additionally, Colonel Strahle served as the Illinois National Guard Joint Task Force J6 Communications Director during this time.
Colonel Strahle also served as the Commander of the 183d Air Communications Flight (ACOMF) from 2014 to 2017, and prior to that, he held the position of Commander of the 183d Communications Flight from 2005 to 2013. During his distinguished career, he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM to Balad Airbase, Iraq from May 2006 to September 2006, where he served as the Deputy Information Systems Commander and the Maintenance System Flight Commander for the 332d Expeditionary Communications Squadron. In 2016-2017, he deployed for Operation INHERENT RESOLVE to Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, South Carolina, Colonel Strahle served as the first 17D Cyber Operations Officer assigned to U.S. Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) A2Y Systems Division Chief.
Colonel Strahle's dedication extends to State Active Duty, where he served as the J6 for winter storm responses, flood duty activations, civil disturbance responses, and cybersecurity operations. Furthermore, he played a key role as the Deputy J6 for Joint Task Force-Summit, providing support during the NATO Summit held in Chicago, IL in May 2012.
EDUCATION
1987 - Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
1987 - Crash Fighter School, Chanute AFB, IL
1996 - Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Minor in Sociology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
2000 - Master of Science in Criminology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
2001 - Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer(MCSE)
2003 - Commissioned from the Academy of Military Science (AMS), McGhee Tyson ANGB, TN
2004 - Expeditionary Communications and Information Officer Training (ECOT), Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS
2005 - Communications Officer Deployable & Tactical Communications Education Course, Keesler AFB, MS
2009 - Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
2010 - National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100-800 Courses completed (Entire Series)
2010 - NORTHCOM Joint Domestic Operations Course (JDOC)
2010 - Squadron Officer School, By Correspondence
2011 - Cyber 200 Course, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
2012 - Air Command and Staff College, By Correspondence
2013 - Cyber 300 Course, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
2014 - Air and Space Operations Center Initial Qualification Training – Communications Course
2015 - Contingency Wartime Planning Course (CWPC)
2016 - ITIL Foundation Certification in IT Service Management
2016 - Information Operation Integration Course (IOIC), Hurlburt Field, FL
2022 - Joint Task Force Commander Training Course
2022 - Dual Status Commander Course
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1987 - September 1987 Fire Fighting Technical School, Chanute AFB, IL
2. October 1987 - March 1995 Crash Rescue Firefighter, 181st Fighter Wing, Terre Haute, IN
3. July 2001 - April 2003 Crash Rescue Firefighter, 181st Fighter Wing, Terre Haute, IN
4. April 2003 - September 2005 Communications Flight Executive Officer, 183d Fighter Wing, Springfield, IL
5. May 2006 - September 2006, Chief of Maintenance, 332nd Communications Squadron, Balad AEW, Iraq
6. October 2005 - September 2013 Communications Flight Commander, 183d Fighter Wing, Springfield, IL
7. September 2013 - November 2014 Director of Operations, 183d Air Communications Squadron, Springfield IL
8. December 2014 - January 2017 Commander, 183d Air Communications Flight, Springfield IL
9. July 2016 - January 2017 AFCENT A2Y Division Chief, Shaw AFB
10. January 2017 - September 2020 Commander, 217th Engineering Installation Squadron, Springfield, IL
11. May 2019 - September 2023 J/G/A6 Communications Director, ILNG JFHQ, Springfield, IL
12. September 2023 - June 2024, Deputy Wing Commander, 183d Wing, Springfield, IL
JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2010 - July 2016 J6, Illinois National Guard Joint Task Force, as a major
2. May 2019 - September 2023 J/G/A6 Communications Director, ILNG JFHQ, Springfield, IL, as a lieutenant colonel
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Ribbon Short Ribbon
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with seven oak leak clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hourglass devices and 2 M devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
Air and Space Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Illinois Military Medal of Merit with two devices
Illinois Abraham Lincoln Medal of Freedom with one device
Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal with five devices
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with twelve devices
Illinois State Active Duty Service Ribbon with six devices
Indiana Military Voluntary Emblem with one device
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Life Member of the National Guard Association of the United States
Life Member of the National Guard Association of Illinois
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant 26 Sep 2003
First Lieutenant 26 Sep 2005
Captain 26 Sep 2007
Major 1 Oct 2011
Lieutenant Colonel 25 Jul 2016
Colonel 30 Sep 2020
(Current as of August 2026)