Colonel Edward J. Irick is Deputy Commander of the Air Force Special Warfare Training Wing, Second Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The Special Warfare Training Wing provides initial and advanced skills training for Air Force ground combat forces, administering 16 different training courses and managing Air Force participation in seven joint schools. This training includes entry-level and apprentice courses for Special Tactics, Combat Rescue, Combat Control, Pararescue, Special Reconnaissance, and Tactical Air Control Party officer and enlisted specialties, as well as combat diving, basic airborne, military freefall, static-line jumpmaster, air traffic control, and paramedic training. The wing consists of two groups, seven squadrons, and twelve detachments across ten states.
Colonel Irick entered the Air Force in 1999, receiving his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy. After his initial assignment as a contracting specialist, he transitioned to the combat rescue officer career field and earned his maroon beret from the Combat Rescue Officer School at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. He has been instrumental in the stand-up of the Guardian Angel weapon system and the development of the Combat Rescue Officer career field, serving in a variety of leadership and staff positions at the squadron, major command, Headquarters Air Force, and Joint Staff level. He has commanded at the squadron level in both garrison and expeditionary capacity. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Vice Commander, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2016 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2021 Master of Strategic Studies, Joint Warfighting Concentration, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1999 – August 2000, Advisor to the Registrar, Minority Affairs, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.
2. September 2000 – September 2002, Contracting specialist, 48th Contracting Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
3. October 2002 - June 2004, Student, Combat Rescue Officer School, Detachment 1, 342nd Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. July 2004 - July 2006, Team Commander, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations-Training, 48th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. August 2006 – July 2009, Branch Chief, Guardian Angel Requirements, Combat Search and Rescue Division, Directorate of Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va. (January – June 2009, Deputy Director, United States Central Command Joint Personnel Recovery Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
6. July 2009 – September 2010, Guardian Angel Weapon System Program Element Monitor and Combat Rescue Officer Career Field Manager, Special Operations and Personnel Recovery Division, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.
7. October 2010 – July 2011, Deputy Director of Action Group for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans, and Requirements (A3/5), Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2011 – May 2013, Commander, 48th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (two deployments as Commander,46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, and 48th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Trapani AB, Italy)
9. May 2013 – May 2014, Executive Officer to the Commander, United States Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
10. July 2014 – April 2016, Chief, Director’s Action Group and Deputy Director of Requirements, Technology Integration, Lessons Learned Directorate (J-9), Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
11. April 2016 – July 2018, Executive Assistant and Special Assistant to the Director, Joint Force Development (J- 7), the Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C. (April - July 2018, Director, Combined Personnel Recovery Center- Afghanistan, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
12. July 2018 – July 2020, Deputy Chair and Instructor, Department of International Security, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2020 – June 2021, Student, Joint Warrior Studies Seminar, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. July 2021 – June 2022, Vice Commander, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
15. July 2022 – present, Vice Commander, Special Warfare Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS:
1. July 2014- April 2016, Chief, Director's Action Group and Deputy Director of Requirements, Technology Integration, Lessons Learned Directorate (J-9), Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va. as a lieutenant colonel
2. April 2016 - April 2018, Executive Assistant & Special Assistant to the Director, Joint Force Development (J-7), the Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating:: Non-rated aircrew, static-line and military freefall parachutist
Aircraft: HC-130P, C-130E, HH-60G, and CH-47
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with combat device Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
(Others not listed)