Colonel Seanna M. Less is the Deputy Commander of Sustainment, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. In this role, she is responsible for all aircraft and munitions maintenance, sortie generation, and weapons loading for the 1st Special Operations Wing while serving as the primary senior maintenance advisor to the Wing Commander. She monitors and influences morale, welfare, risk, culture, and maintenance mission execution supporting a variety of special operations aircraft, including the AC-130J Gunship and MC-130J Commando II, as well as provides functional oversight of maintenance support for various light/medium non-standard aviation platforms. Her Sustainment team provides mission ready aircraft, equipment, munitions, and personnel to warfighting commanders to accomplish new and enduring global special operations tasking.
Colonel Less’ hometown is Rockford, Michigan. She received her commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Michigan State University in August 2001. She is an aircraft maintainer who served in various assignments to include Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, Squadron Operations Officer, and Squadron Commander throughout the United States, Europe, and Central Command area of responsibility. She has experience on A-10, HH-60G, HC-130P, F-15C/D, F-22, MQ-1B, MQ-9, EC-130J, AC-130J, and MC-130J aircraft. She has held the position of Joint Planner at the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Chief of Force Development for the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Career Field in the Maintenance Division at headquarters Air Force, and Director of Operations of the Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Michigan State University, Michigan
2001 Aero Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force base, Alabama
2006 Squadron Officer School Maxwell Air Force base, Alabama
2007 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2009 Master of Science in Biology, St Joseph College, Connecticut
2013 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2020 Master of Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, National Defense University, Norfolk, Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 2001- Avionics Flight Commander, Aircraft Maintenance Flight Commander, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Assistant Officer in Charge, 23rd Fighter Group, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
2. 2004 - 41st Assistant Helicopter Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, Quality Assurance Officer in Charge, 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, 23rd Wing, Moody Air Force base, Georgia
3. 2008 - Maintenance Flight Commander, 325th Maintenance Operations Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Officer, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
4. 2011 - Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School Director of Operations, 53d Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
5. 2012 - Commander, 432d Maintenance Squadron, 432d Wing, Creech Air Force base, Nevada
6. 2014 - Commander, 352d Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, Commander, 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 352d Special Operations Wing, Mildenhall Air Base, United Kingdom
7. 2017 - Chief of Force Development for the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Career Field, Maintenance Division, Headquarters Air Force, National Capital Region
8. 2019 - Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
9. 2020 - Joint Planner, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Naval Station Norfolk
10. 2022 - Chief, Combat Aircraft Division, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
11. 2023 - present, Commander, 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant: Aug 20, 2001
First Lieutenant: Aug 20, 2003
Captain: Aug 20, 2005
Major: Oct 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel: Oct 1, 2016
Colonel: Jan 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2023)