Colonel Stephan G. Shy is the 130th Operations Group Commander, McLaughlin Air National Guard Base (ANGB), West Virginia. Col. Shy leads the organization, training, and equipping of the 263 men and women of the 130th Operations Group. His service to the 130th Airlift Squadron, 130th Operations Support Squadron, and the 167th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron ensure mission-ready aircrews and aeromedical evacuation crews are deployable worldwide.
Col. Shy entered the West Virginia Air National Guard in February 1997 and was assigned to the 130th Aerial Port Squadron, completing Air Force basic training in May 1997. Col. Shy completed the air transportation apprentice course in July 1997 and progressed to earn a journeyman rating and promotion to Staff Sergeant in 2000. Upon award of his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in late 2000, he was selected for commissioning and attended the Academy of Military Science, graduating in September 2001. Col. Shy attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, graduating in January 2003. He served as a line pilot in a traditional guardsman status from 2003 through 2009, participating in numerous deployments and exercises. From 2009-2010, Col. Shy served as a staff and action officer to the Department of Defense Biometrics Task Force in service to the Joint and Interagency Biometrics Enterprise. Since 2010, Col. Shy has served as a civil servant and traditional guardsman in several roles within the 130th Airlift Wing, notably as the Chief of Training, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 130th Operations Support Squadron Commander, and 130th Airlift Squadron Commander.
Col. Shy is a Command Pilot with Instructor and Examiner certifications in the C-130 H and J variants with more than 1195 combat hours and 4300 military flight hours. He also has more than 2500 hours as an Airline Transport Pilot in multiple variants of the Boeing 737. Col Shy’s deployments include Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, JOINT ENTERPRISE, CORONET OAK INHERENT RESOLVE, and FREEDOM SENTINEL. His deployment experience includes serving as Current Operations Chief, Expeditionary Ops Group Stan/Eval, and most recently as 779th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Commander, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait. Prior to his current position, Col Shy served as 130th Operations Group Deputy Commander, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
EDUCATION
2000 Associate in Applied Science, Air Transportation, Community College of the Air Force
2000 Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing, Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va.
2001 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tenn.
2007 Master of Business Administration, Marshall University Graduate College, Charleston, W.Va.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Masters Certificate, Identity Management, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2011 Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course, Rosecrans ANGB, Mo.
2012 USAF Advanced Instrument School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2013 Lean Six Sigma Brown Belt Certificate, Kusimo Academy, Charleston, W.Va.
2013 Aircraft Mishap Identification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Squadron Commander Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2021 Air Reserve Component War College Seminar, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1997–May 1997, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. May 1997-July 1997, Student, Air Transportation Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. August 1997-August 2001, Air Transportation Specialist, 130th Aerial Port Squadron, McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, W.Va.
4. December 2001-January 2003, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
5. June 2003- September 2009, Line Pilot, 130th Airlift Squadron, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va. (October 2003-February 2004, March 2004-June 2004, Pilot, 737 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait) (July 2004-October 2004, November 2004-February 2005, April 2005-June 2005, Pilot, 774 EAS, Karshi-Khanabad, Uzbekistan) (January 2009-April 2009, Aircraft Commander, 774 EAS, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
6. Oct 2009- August 2010, Staff and Action Officer, DOD Biometrics Task Force, Clarksburg, W.Va.
7. August 2010-March 2011, Line Aircraft Commander and Flight Lead, 130 AS, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va (August 2010-December 2010, Chief of Current Operations, Assistant Director of Operations, 774 EAS, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
8. April 2011-September 2012, Line Instructor Pilot, 130 AS, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
(February 2012-July 2012, Instructor Pilot, 774 EAS, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
9. October 2012-September 2014, Chief of Training, 130th Operations Support Squadron, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
10. October 2014-November 2015, Flight Commander & Evaluator Pilot, 130 AS, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
11. December 2015-December 2017, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 130th Operations Group, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
(July 2017-November 2017, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 386th Expeditionary Operations Group, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
12. January 2018-April 2019, Commander, 130th Operations Support Squadron, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
13. May 2019-February 2021, Commander, 130th Airlift Squadron, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va. (April 2020-July 2020, Commander, 779th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait)
14. February 2021-March 2023, Unit Conversion Officer & Deputy Commander, 130th Operations Group, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 4,300
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, C-130 E, H, & J variants
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 1 device
Air Medal with 8 devices
Aerial Achievement Medal with 2 devices
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 device
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
National Guard Association
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association