Colonel PATRICK D. CHARD

Colonel Patrick D. Chard is Deputy Commander of the 130th Airlift Wing at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base in Charleston, WV. He is responsible for assisting the Wing Commander in managing over $100M in property and equipment and the formulation, development and coordination of all plans, programs and policies applicable to 1,100 airmen and nine aircraft. 

 

Colonel Chard joined the WV National Guard in September 1991 as an enlisted Command and Control Apprentice assigned to the 130th Airlift Wing Command Post in Charleston, WV.  In June 1999, Colonel Chard graduated as a distinguished graduate from the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, TN, received his commission, and was named the Commander for the 130th Communications Flight.  In February 2007, Colonel Chard was appointed as the Chief Information Officer for the WV National Guard and as the Director, Joint Force Headquarters – WV – J6, Charleston, WV.  In July 2015, Colonel Chard was appointed as the Director of Staff – Air for Headquarters West Virginia Air National Guard.  Finally, in January 2018, Colonel Chard was appointed to his current assignment. Colonel Chard has deployed twice to Ramstein AB, Germany in support of Operation Joint Forge and Operation Joint Endeavor.  In May 2005, Colonel Chard deployed to N’Djamena, Chad in support of Special Operations Command Europe and Operation Enduring Freedom.  During Hurricane Katrina, Colonel Chard acted as the Deputy J6 for Task Force Belle Chasse, Belle Chasse NAS, LA.  Finally, in 2018, Colonel Chard was activated and served as the Director for Cyber Defense Support to Civil Authorities for Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network, United State Cyber Command.  In this role, he supported the command’s efforts at ensuring the integrity of the 2018 election cycle and led the authoring of the first Concept of Operations for the use of National Guard Cyber Forces in support of State and County election officials.

 

Colonel Chard is considered an expert in cyber security and holds numerous professional certifications including GIAC Certified Network Penetration Tester, GIAC Certified Security Leadership Professional, Cisco Certified Network Associate, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, A+, Network+, and Security+.  Colonel Chard has served as an advisor and instructor to Marshall University, the University of Charleston and West Virginia University at Parkersburg for the development and instruction of cyber security related courses. 

 

EDUCATION

1998 - Bachelor of Arts Degree, West Virginia State College, Institute, WV

2007 - Squadron Officer School (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

2011 - Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

2014 - Masters of Science Degree in Technology Management, Marshall University, Huntington, WV

2016 - Executive Education in Leadership in Homeland Security and Crisis Management, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

2017 - Air War College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

 

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. September 1991- November 1996, Command and Control Specialist, 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston W.Va.
  2. November 1996 – June 1999, Logistics Plans Specialist, 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston W.Va.
  3. June 1999 – February 2007, Commander, 130th Communications Flight, 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston W.Va.
  4. February 2007 – July 2015, Director J6, Joint Force Headquarters West Virginia National Guard, Charleston W.Va.
  5. July 2015 – January 2018, Director of Staff – Air, Headquarters West Virginia Air National Guard (Fulltime), Charleston W.Va.
  6. January 2016 – July 2017, Commander 130th Force Support Squadron (Drill Status), 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston W.Va.
  7. January 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 130th Maintenance Group, 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston W.Va.
  8. June 2020- Present, Vice Wing Commander, 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston W.Va.

 

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters

AF Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

AF Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster

AF Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster

Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

National Defense Service Medal with one device

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Armed Forces Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

AF Longevity Service Award with five oak leaf clusters

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two “hour glass” devices and one “M” device

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

AF Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster

 

STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Louisiana Emergency Service Medal

West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award

West Virginia National Guard Minuteman Ribbon

West Virginia Service Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters

West Virginia State Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters

West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster