Col. Wiliam R. Gery is the Commander, 505th Test and Training Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla. In this role, he leads a diverse, Total Force team of joint, coalition, and civilian personnel distributed across two co-located squadrons and one geographically separated unit. Together, the group is responsible for initial and advanced training for U.S. Air Force, joint, and coalition personnel in the principles, processes, and systems used to command airpower at the operational level of war, while providing responsive, worldwide, radar-centric planning, optimization, and constant evaluation
Col. Gery, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa, attended West Virginia University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Blue Horizons Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellowship program and the U.S. Army War College’s Advanced Strategic Art Program.
An Electronic Warfare Officer with over 1,300 flight hours, Col. Gery is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He has flown combat missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel and served as the Chief of the EW Cell during Operation Unified Protector. A qualified Joint Staff Officer, he previously served as an Intelligence Analysis Center Deputy at the National Security Agency, leading critical analysis for Operation Inherent Resolve. He commanded the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, and the 42nd ECS at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Prior to his current position, the colonel was an Inquiry Officer, Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force, Arlington, Va.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Sociology, West Virginia University
2009 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, EC-130H, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Science, Management, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, with distinction
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va.
2016 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University, Washington, D.C.
2018 Master of Science, Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration, Blue Horizons CSAF Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 U.S. Army War College, Advanced Strategic Art Program, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004-April 2005, Operations Group Plans, 22nd Operation Support Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
2. April 2005-April 2006, Student, Combat Systems Officer Training/Electronic Warfare Officer Training, 561st/563rd Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. April 2006-June 2007, Student, Weapons System Officer Training, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
4. June 2007-Sept 2008, Mission Crew Commander, 41st Electronic Combat Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. Sept 2008-June 2009, Instructor MCC/Executive Officer, 41st ECS, Davis Monthan-AFB, Ariz.
6. June 2009-December 2009, Student, USAF Weapon School, 8th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. January 2010-October 2011, Flight Commander, Weapons and Tactics, 43rd ECS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
8. October 2011-January 2012, Flight Commander/Chief Group W&T, 755th OSS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
9. January 2012-June 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, Senior MCC, 755th OSS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
10. July 2012-August 2015, Deputy of Electromagnetic-Space Analysis Center, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.
11. August 2015-July 2017, Combat Air Forces Weapons and Tactics Conference Chairman, Weapons System Evaluations Program Manager, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
12. August 2017-June 2018, Intermediate Developmental Education, Blue Horizons Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellowship, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. December 2018-June 2020, Director of Operations, 43rd ECS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
14. November 2019-June 2020, Commander, 41st Expeditionary ECS, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
15. June 2020-June 2022, Commander, 42nd ECS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
16. June 2022-June 2023, Senior Developmental Education, U.S. Army War College, Advanced Strategic Art Program, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
17. June 2023-June 2025, Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Strategic Execution Group, CSAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. June 2025-June 2026, Inquiry Officer, Senior Official Inquires Directorate, Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2026-present, Commander, 505th Test and Training Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
July 2012-August 2015, Deputy of E-Space Analysis Center, NSA, Fort Meade, Md., as a captain and a major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Combat Systems Officer/Electronic Warfare Officer
Flight hours: More than 1,300, including 500 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-1, EC-130H (primary), F-15D, F-16A, T-38C, C-12C
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2019 U.S. Air Force Maj General John Alison Award for Character and Innovation
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal, with “C” device, two oak leaf clusters
(Current as of July 2026)