Colonel Heaslip is the Commander, 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale AFB CA. The wing, composed of 4 groups and 9 squadrons is a modern Nuclear Force responsible to recruit, train and equip Conventional and Nuclear forces for the Theater or Joint Force Commander. He is responsible for eight unit equipped KC135R Stratotankers and the organization, training, and equipping of approximately 700 assigned military, civil service and contract personnel for worldwide deployment and sustained Nuclear Strike operations.
Col Heaslip was commissioned by the Academy of Military Science in 1990. He served in the Mississippi Air National Guard as an information management officer for the 238th Combat Communications Squadron while awaiting navigator training. Upon graduation from Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training in 1994 he returned to the ANG’s 153rd Air Refueling Squadron. He served in scheduling, plans and current operations.
Col Heaslip was selected to attend Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for the ANG and graduated in 2000. After graduation, Col Heaslip accepted an air reserve technician position at the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana, in 2001. He became an aircraft commander, instructor pilot and eventually evaluator pilot. He held such positions as chief of mission development, chief of current operations, chief of tactics, chief of safety and eventually chief pilot. Col Heaslip arrived at March Air Reserve Base, California, in 2013 where he served as the 452nd Operations Support Squadron Director of Operations and the deputy commander of the 452nd Operations Group.
In 2015, Col Heaslip accepted the operations officer position with the 349th Air Mobility Wing Detachment 1 at Beale AFB, and after the wing’s re-designation ceremony, he assumed command of the 940th Operations Group. In 2018 Col Heaslip took command of the 507 ARW at Tinker AFB, OK to include the 730 ATS at Altus AFB, OK. Col Heaslip has deployed numerous times in support of Operations JOINT FORGE, DELIBERATE GUARD, NORTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, UNIFIED PROTECTOR and NEW DAWN.
EDUCATION
1987 Associate of Arts, Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg, Ill.
1989 Bachelor of Science, Bradley University, Peoria, Ill.
1990 Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn.
1992 Master of Science, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Miss.
1997 Squadron Officer School, by Correspondence
2004 Air Command and Staff College – Joint, by Correspondence
2007 Combat Aircrew Tactics Study, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2007 Air War College, by Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1993 – November 1994, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. November 1994 – October 1999, KC-135R Navigator, 153rd Air Refueling Squadron Executive Officer, Squadron Plans Officer, Squadron Pilot Scheduler, Key Field, Meridian, Miss.
3. November 1999 – October 2000, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
4. October 2000 – June 2001, KC-135R Copilot, 153rd Air Refueling Squadron, Assistant Director of Operations, Key Field, Meridian, Miss.
5. July 2001 – January 2004, KC-135R Aircraft Commander, 72nd Air Refueling Squadron Mission Development Officer, Grissom ARB, Ind.
6. May 2004 – Dec 2007, KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 72nd Air Refueling Squadron Current Operations Officer, Grissom ARB, Ind.
7. December 2007 – February 2009, KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 434th Operations Group Chief of Tactics, Grissom ARB, Ind.
8. March 2009 – August 2011, KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 434th Air Refueling Wing Chief of Safety, Grissom ARB, Ind.
9. September 2011 – January 2013, KC-135R Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 72nd Air Refueling Squadron, Chief Pilot, Grissom ARB, Ind.
10. January 2013 – July 2014, KC-135R Instructor Pilot, Aircraft Operations Officer 452nd Operations Support Squadron, March ARB, Calif.
11. October 2014 – December 2015, KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 452nd Operations Group Deputy Commander, March ARB, Calif.
12. December 2015 – June 2018, 940th Operations Group Commander, KC-135R Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Beale AFB, Calif.
13. June 2018 – November 2020, Commander, 507th Air Refueling Wing, KC-135R Instructor Pilot, Tinker AFB, Okla.
14. November 2020 – September 2021, Director of Air and Space Operations, Headquarters 4 AF, March ARB, Calif.
15. September 2021 – September 2022, Director of Staff, Headquarters 4 AF, March ARB, Calif.
16. September 2022 – Present, Commander, 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 5,800 military
Military Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1, KC-135R, C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three devices
Combat Readiness Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 2 August 1990
First Lieutenant 5 June 1993
Captain 6 July 1995
Major 10 July 1999
Lieutenant Colonel 1 October 2005
Colonel 1 April 2016
(Current as of August 2022)