Col. Shannon Cary is a U.S. Air Force Reservist currently serving as the Deputy Commander of the 926th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. In the civilian sector, she is a full-time Department of Defense federal employee, managing the $20M F-16 simulator complex at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.

Commissioned through the US Air Force Academy in 1997, Col. Cary was first assigned to Vance Air Force Base, Okla. where she went through Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training. Upon graduation, she remained at Vance Air Force Base as a T-37 First Assignment Instructor Pilot. Following that assignment, she went to Luke Air Force Base for F-16 RTU. At completion of training, she was assigned to Kunsan Air Base, ROK, where she flew F-16s, was Chief of Scheduling and the Squadron Flight Safety Officer. After that, Col. Cary was selected for assignment to Misawa Air Base, Japan. She continued to fly F-16s, was a squadron flight commander and chief of wing inspections. From there, she separated from active duty and, following a break in service, joined the US Air Force Reserve in 2011. Her first assignment as a reservist was at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., where she was an MQ-9 Instructor Pilot at the formal training unit. She then transferred to the 2nd SOS, first at Nellis Air Force Base and then Hurlburt Field, Fla, where she continued to fly MQ-9s as a traditional reservist. Staying within the 919th SOW, Col. Cary commanded the 919 Special Operations Support Squadron, Duke Field, Florida. Her responsibilities included the overall management, training and performance of intelligence, aircrew flight equipment, survival, evasion, resistance, escape, and combat plans and scheduling in support of the 919 Special Operations Wing global combat operations. Prior to her current position, Col. Cary served as a Joint Operations Center Watch Captain, assigned to U.S. SOUTHERN Command in Miami, Fla.

Col. Cary is a command pilot with more than 2,500 hours, including 530 combat hours. She has flown combat missions in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, COPPER DUNE, NEW DAWN, JUKEBOX LOTUS and JUPITER GARRET.

EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Biology, US Air Force Academy, Colo.
2002 Squadron Officer School (In-Residence), Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 USAF Flight Safety Officer School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2015 Masters of Military Operational Arts and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Air Command & Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1998-March 2002, T-37 FAIP, 71 Flying Training Wing, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2. March-December 2002, F-16 RTU, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. December 2002-July 2004, F-16 Pilot, 35 Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, ROK
4. July 2004-October 2006, F-16 Pilot, 13 Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
5. February 2011-June 2012, MQ-9 Instructor Pilot, 29 Reconnaissance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
6. June 2012-December 2012, 482 FW Executive Officer, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
7. December 2012-July 2013, MQ-9 Instructor Pilot, 2 Special Operations Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. July 2014-June 2019, MQ-9 Instructor Pilot, 2 Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. June 2019-June 2021, Commander, 919 Special Operations Support Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.
10. October 2021-November 2024, Joint Operations Watch Captain, US Southern Command, Miami, Fla.
11. November 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 926th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2021-November 2024, Joint Operations Watch Captain, US Southern Command, Miami, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 2500 including 530 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-16C, MQ-1, MQ-9

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one “R” device and four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
AF Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
AF Longevity Service with five oak leaf clusters
AF Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1997
First Lieutenant May 28, 1999
Captain October 16, 2005
Major March 13, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel September 4, 2019
Colonel November 12, 2024

(Current as of November 2024)