Col Scott Mills is the Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He is responsible for 36 squadrons at 12 installations constituting the Air Force’s most diverse flying wing. The Wing flies and maintains more than 182 aircraft of the following types: A-10, F-15E, F-16, F-22A, F-35A, and HH-60W. The wing also utilizes AC-130J, B-1, B-2, B-52, C-130, CV-22, E-3, C-17, E-11, EC-37, EC-130, HC-130, KC-46, KC-135, MC-130, MQ-9, RQ-4, RQ-170, RC-135, U-2, U-28 aircraft along with cyber, space, and command and control platforms at 12 stateside bases to execute the U.S. Air Force Weapons School syllabus. Col Mills is responsible for three groups: the 57th Operations Group, the 57th Maintenance Group and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. In addition, he oversees the U.S. Air Force Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School; Red Flag and Green Flag exercises; and the U.S. Air Force Aggressors, comprised of 4th and 5th generation fighters, air defense aggressors, and cyber aggressors. The 57th Wing is also home to the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron–the Thunderbirds.
Colonel Mills received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1999. He is a command pilot with more than 2,800 flying hours, including over 300 combat hours. He has served as a commander at the Squadron, Group, and Wing levels. He has also served as the Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs and served as a Military Strategist on the Joint Staff J-5, Deputy Directorate for Joint Strategic Plans, at the Pentagon, and graduated as a distinguished graduate from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and Air Command Staff College. Prior to his current position, the Col was the Commander of the 355 Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
Col Mills’ operational assignments include service in the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz; the 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; the 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, NC; and a tour as an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He has flown combat missions in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, where he also served as a Battalion Air Liaison Officer.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2005 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master's degree in Military Operational Art/Science, Air University, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master's degree in Military Strategy, School of Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
2017 Master's degree in Strategic Studies, USMC War College, Quantico MCB, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
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October 1999 – April 2001, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
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April 2001 – August 2004, A-10 Instructor Pilot and Battalion Air Liaison Officer, 354th Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
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August 2004 – June 2005, A-10 Instructor Pilot and Chief, Squadron Training, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
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July 2005 – December 2005, Student, USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
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January 2006 – June 2007, Squadron Weapons Officer, 74th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
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July 2007 – June 2010, Flight Commander and Asst. Director of Operations, 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
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July 2010 – June 2011, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
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July 2011 – June 2012, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
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July 2012 – May 2014, Political Military Strategist, J-5, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, D.C.
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June 2014 – June 2016, Commander, 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
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July 2016 – June 2017, Student, USMC War College, Quantico MCB, Va.
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July 2017 – May 2020, Special Advisor on F-35 Programs, Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, HQ USAF, the Pentagon, D.C.
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May 2020 – April 2021 Commander, Detachment 6, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
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April 2021– June 2022, Commander, 57th Operations Group, Nellis AFB, Nev.
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June 2022 – July 2025, Commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
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July 2025 – June 2026, Senior Executive Officer to CSAF, HQ USAF, the Pentagon, D.C.
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June 2026 – Present, Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
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July 2012 – May 2014, Political Military Strategist, J-5, Joint Staff, Pentagon, D.C., as a Major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flying Hours: More than 2,900, including more than 350 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38A/B, A-10C, and F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
Major Dec. 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2013
Colonel Dec. 1, 2019
(Current as of Jun 2026)