Colonel Clayton W. Schuety is the Deputy Commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He is responsible for preparing Air Force special operations forces for worldwide missions in support of joint and international partners. The wing's mission includes planning, posturing, and executing strike, mobility, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The wing employs more than 80 aircraft, including the AC-130J, MC-130J, U-28A, PC-12, and MQ-9. Colonel Schuety also assists Hurlburt Field’s base support for the wing’s four groups and 23 squadrons, as well as over 40 tenant units, including Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command.
Colonel Schuety received his commission from Iowa State University Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2005 and is a career gunship pilot in Air Force Special Operations Command who has flown the AC-130H, AC-130W, and AC-130J. Prior to his current position, Colonel Schuety was the Division Chief of Special Operations Forces and Personnel Recovery Team, Air Force Futures, Headquarters United States Air Force.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Science in Space Studies, American Military University, Va.
2013 Weapons School Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2018 Master of Science, Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2019 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. October 2006 – May 2007, Student, phase 1 undergraduate pilot training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. May 2007 – November 2007, Student, phase 2/3 undergraduate pilot training, Corpus Christi, Texas
3. November 2007 – June 2009, AC-130H Pilot, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. June 2009 –December 2010, Executive Officer, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
5. December 2010 – June 2013, Flight Commander, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
6. June 2013 – June 2014, Chief Weapons and Tactics, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N.M.
7. June 2014 – January 2015, Executive Officer, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N.M.
8. January 2015 – June 2016, Aide-De-Camp, Joint Special Operations Command, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
9. June 2015 – July 2017, Future Operations Planner, Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group, Ft. Bragg, N.C.
10. July 2017 – December 2018, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calf.
11. December 2018 – August 2019, Student, AC-130J Pilot, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. August 2019 – June 2020, Operations Officer, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
13. June 2020 – June 2021, Commander, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
14. June 2021 – June 2022, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. June 2022 – December 2023, Deputy Chief, SOF/PR Functional Integration Team, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. December 2023 – June 2025, Division Chief, SOF/PR Capability Development Team, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. June 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,300 hours
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-44A, AC-130H, AC-130W, AC-130J, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 17, 2005
First Lieutenant December 17, 2007
Captain December 17, 2009
Major March 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2018
Colonel June 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2025)