Captain named top air liaison officer in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Scott Covode
  • Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) --  An Air Force Special Operations Command captain was named the service's top air liaison officer for 2008 recently. 

This year's annual winner is Capt. Christopher Wilson who is assigned to the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron and is the tactical air control party flight commander for Operating Location Echo, 2/75 Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis, Wash. 

The native of Wheeling, W. Va., is recognized for his tactical expertise while deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom where he provided command and control of more than 150 direct-action missions resulting in the capture of 200 high-value targets and the destruction of more than 50 targets, said Lt. Col. Chris Cronk, the 17th ASOS commander.

"While in Iraq, Chris worked some of the busiest airspace in the world," Colonel Cronk said.

Captain Wilson is a 2001 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot. While assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Captain Wilson deployed twice to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"During my deployments in the F-16, I directly supported special forces and I found I really enjoyed working with their operations. It led me to join the (air liaison officer) program," he said.

The captain volunteered to join the tactical air control party program after his combat experience supporting special forces from the cockpit. He attended jump school and other specialized training and then joined the 2nd Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis.

"He was an eager volunteer and has even offered to extend his tour in the program," Colonel Cronk said. "He's a great asset to the TACP community and the (Defense Department) combat forces he supports."

While Captain Wilson normally works the "fires desk," in charge of controlling airpower for the battle space, his first deployment to Iraq as an air liaison officer put him in the field with the Rangers.

"When Chris first arrived in Iraq, the unit was temporarily short a joint terminal attack controller," Colonel Cronk said. "Since he was fully qualified, he joined the Rangers combat mission team in the field. This gives him great perspective on the air-to-ground battle. He's flown direct support missions for the ground guys and has also seen combat with the Rangers."

"I wouldn't have received (the award) without the help of the rest of the TACPs in my shop and the Ranger battalion," he said. "They enabled me to succeed. I couldn't have done any of this without them."

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