911th Airlift Wing

MISSION: Provide mission-ready C-17 airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and agile combat support.

The unit also provides intratheater aeromedical evacuation. The unit participates in joint service training exercises and supports active duty forces in airborne training.

VISION:Forging Steel Airmen for America’s Sword and Shield.”

COMMANDER’S GOALS: We will successfully complete our mission and bring our vision to reality through exceptional leadership in executing the mission, managing resources, improving the unit and leading people.

ORGANIZATION: The 911th Airlift Wing reports to 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, California. Wing daily activities are managed by civilian federal workers, including air reserve technicians. Over 90 percent of the 911th is made up of Air Force Reserve volunteers from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The other 10 percent are volunteers from across the United States. Reservists train one weekend per month at a unit training assembly, and perform 15 days of active duty for training each year. Aircrew members train more often to meet flight qualification standards. The wing flies airlift missions in support of Department of Defense assignments.

The 911th Airlift Wing is composed of the following units:
911th Operations Group - Col. Gregory Buchanan, Commander
758th Airlift Squadron
911th Operations Support Flight
911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
911th Maintenance Group - Col. Clifford Waller, Commander
911th Maintenance Squadron
911th Maintenance Operations Flight
911th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
911th Mission Support Group – Col. Kenneth Lute, Commander
911th Civil Engineering Squadron
911th Communications Squadron
911th Mission Support Flight
911th Security Forces Squadron
911th Services Squadron
911th Logistics Resource Squadron
32nd Aerial Port Squadron
911th Aeromedical Staging Squadron - Lt. Col. Karen Steiner

AIRCRAFT: The 911th Airlift Wing is in a conversion status as it changes from a tactical airlift mission with the C-130 Hercules aircraft to a strategic airlift mission with the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. It currently has 4 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned, and is slated to receive another 4 before the end of the conversion.

PERSONNEL: The 911th includes more than 1,200 Air Force Reserve members. The unit employs approximately 250 civilians, including more than 150 air reserve technicians holding dual civilian and military positions. If mobilization occurs, most 911th units deploy as part of the Air Mobility Command.

ECONOMIC IMPACT: The 911th overall economic impact for Fiscal Year 18 was estimated at $159,357,012.” 

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: Since the terrorists' attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the 911th has been flying missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September 2001, the 911th Security Forces Squadron was 100 percent mobilized and remained in that status until September 2003; safeguarding the 911th AW and protecting other national assets globally. Seventeen members of the 32nd Aerial Port Squadron deployed from June 2002 to September 2002 and assigned to the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet to assist in air terminal operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 911th AW received an aviation package December 2003 to mobilize approximately 250 personnel for 12 months. In July 2004, the mobilization package was extended to 24 months. Aircrews comprised of pilots, navigators, engineers and loadmasters are currently moving approximately 3,000 passengers and 700 tons of cargo per month in support of OIF. The 911th Aeromedical Staging Squadron personnel have assisted more than 2,000 patients in urgent, non-urgent, and critical categories. Personnel in the 911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron have flown more than 1,000 hours on medical evacuation missions attending to 6,000 plus patients. They were recognized by the Air Mobility Command as Outstanding C-130 Mission and the Primary Medical Squadron for 2003. They also won the Lt. Gen. George E. Schafer Trophy for 2003. Members of the 911th Services Squadron Long Dining Facility were recognized as the Air Force Reserve Command's best dining facility in the command for 2004 and received the coveted John L. Hennessy Award. This was the fifth time they received the award in an 11-year period. In 2018 alone, the following were awarded to wing members and organizations within the wing: Outstanding Company Grade Officer assigned to a Reserve Medical Unit, the Nursing Leadership Excellence Award, the Outstanding Air Reserve Technician Senior NCO of the Year, Outstanding Airman assigned to a Reserve Medical Unit, Mentorship Excellence Award, Todd “TJ” Lobraico Award, Outstanding Security Forces Flight – Level NCO/Airman Award, Gen. Lew Allen Mission Execution/Sortie Generation, Financial Analysis Office of the Year, Force Support Squadron Support Airman & Senior NCO of the Year, Logistics Readiness Squadron Quality Assurance Award.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: In June 2007, the wing hosted its seventh annual Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show, celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Air & Space Power. During the two-day event, approximately 225,000 spectators attended. The 911th has also been very involved in the Honorary Commander's Association which was implemented in March 2003, for the purpose of educating the local business community in the Army and Air Force Reserve's role in the total force structure for national defense. The HCA has grown as a cooperative effort among the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce; the 911th AW, Air Force Reserve Command; the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard; and the 99th Regional Readiness Command of the Army Reserve to encourage employers to support employees and to foster a better understanding and community support of the local military units.

HISTORY: Established in 1943, the site at Pittsburgh International Airport has hosted active duty and reserve flying units. In 1963, the 911th Troop Carrier Group was activated to administer the 758th Troop Carrier Squadron. It became a Military Airlift Group when the unit converted to C-124 aircraft in 1967, then to Tactical Airlift Group when the unit converted to C-123K aircraft in 1972. The unit converted to C-130A aircraft in 1980 and C-130H aircraft in 1987. The unit was renamed 911th Airlift Group in 1992 and renamed 911th Airlift Wing in 1994. In 2018, the 911th AW began its conversion to the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and is slated to house 8 C-17s when the conversion is complete.

COMMANDER: Colonel Douglas N. Strawbridge assumed command in March, 2018.