Brig. Gen. Welter serves as Deputy Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. The 22nd Air Force has command supervision of the Air Force Reserve’s tactical air mobility operations and other vital mission sets to include distinguished visitor airlift, undergraduate pilot training, flight test operations and a highly mobile civil engineering response force. With more than 12,000 Reserve Airmen and 64 unit-equipped aircraft, 22nd Air Force contributes daily to the Air Force’s worldwide operational mission. Reserve aircrews within 22nd Air Force accomplish a variety of C-130 Hercules missions, to include aerial spray, fire suppression, weather reconnaissance, tactical airlift and airdrop and aeromedical evacuation.
General Welter received his commission in 1997 from the Air Force Academy, earned his wings at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and was assigned to fly the C-5 Galaxy. In 2005, he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve. General Welter has served as a vice wing commander, flying squadron commander, as the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director, Policy Integration Division (AF/REI) and as a Joint Mobility Operations Officer at U.S. Transportation Command. Prior to his current role, General Welter was the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, representing the Air Force and Space Force to Congress on all programs, air and space weapons systems, and issues, collaborating directly with the House of Representatives and Senate to ensure full authorization of the Department of the Air Force’s annual budget.
General Welter was the first-ever Chief of the Reserve Integration division (AF/REXA) embedded in the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability (AFWIC), which evolved into Air Force Futures. In his civilian capacity, Welter is a Senior Fellow at a think tank in the Washington, D.C. area. General Welter is a command pilot, C-5 Instructor and Examiner Aircraft Commander with over 3,400 flying hours, including over 140 combat hours.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1998 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2002 Advanced Instrument School, Randolph AFB, Texas
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Flight Safety Officer School, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2007 Master of Science, Management, University of Maryland University College, Adelphia
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by seminar
2014 Naval, Theater Security and Decision-Making Course, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2015 Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Mobility Commanders’ Tactics Course, Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Mo.
2015 Air Force Reserve Command Squadron Commanders’ Course, Robins AFB, Ga.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Master of Art, Political Science, University of Missouri, St. Louis
2018 National War College, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science, University of Missouri, St. Louis
2021 Fellow, Seminar XXI, Program on Foreign Politics, International Relations and the National Interest, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1997–August 1998, Student Pilot, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. August 1998–December 2001, C-5 Aircraft Commander, Pilot Training Officer, Scheduler, 9th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
3. December 2001–September 2005, C-5 Examiner Aircraft Commander, Executive Officer to Squadron Commander; Deputy Chief, Standardization and Evaluation 22nd AS, Executive Officer to Commander, 60th Operations Group, Travis AFB, Calif.
4. September 2005–October 2010, C-5 Instructor Aircraft Commander, Flight Commander, 709th AS, Dover AFB, Del.
5. October 2010–November 2013, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director, U.S. Air Force Reserve Policy Integration Directorate, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. December 2013−April 2015, Joint Mobility Operations Officer, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. April 2015–June 2017, Commander, 709th AS, Dover AFB, Del.
8. July 2017–June 2018, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. July 2018–February 2021, Chief, Air Force Reserve Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability Integration Cell, Directorate of Plans, Programs and Requirements, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. March 2021–July 2021, IMA to Director of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. July 2021–September 2022, Vice Commander, 512th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
12. September 2022–April 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. May 2024–present, Deputy Commander 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2013−April 2015, Joint Mobility Operations Officer, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,400, including more than 140 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-1A and C-5A/B/C/M
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2013 Reserve Advisory Council member for the Air Force Association
2016 Seminar Leader for Reserve Components National Security Course, National Defense University
(Current as of August 2024)