Col. Thomas B. Palenske is the Commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing and Installation Commander, Hurlburt Field, Fla. As the 1st SOW commander, he is responsible for preparing Air Force special operations forces for missions worldwide in support of Army, Navy, Marine and allied special operations forces and USAF counterparts. The wing's mission includes infiltration, resupply, air refueling, and precision fire support, employing over 70 aircraft including the AC-130U/J, MC-130H, CV-22B, U-28A and PC-12. These capabilities support a variety of special operations missions including direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, personnel recovery, psychological operations and information operations.
Col. Palenske graduated from Friends University and received his commission in 1995. He has spent the majority of his career in special operations aviation assignments. He is a command pilot with over 3,500 hours in various aircraft, including the UH-1H, UH-60, MH-60G, MH-53J/M, and CV-22B. Col. Palenske has deployed extensively in support of combat, humanitarian assistance, peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations.
EDUCATION:
1995 Bachelor of Science, Human Resources Management, Friends University, Kan.
2000 Master of Political Science, International Relations, Troy State University, Ala.
2002 Master of Administrative Science, Organizational Mgmt, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 IDE residence credit, Air Force Intern Program, Washington D.C.
2003 MH-53 Weapons Instructor Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2004 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence program).
2007 Joint Forces Staff College, Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Va.
2009 Air War College (correspondence program)
2014 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1986 – December 1986, recruit, U.S. Army basic training, Fort Knox, Ky.
2. December 1986 – February 1987, UH-1H crew chief student, U.S. Army Advanced Individual Training, Fort
Rucker, Ala.
3. February 1987 – October 1987, UH-1H crew chief, 1st 108th Combat Aviation Battalion Kansas Army National
Guard, Topeka, Kan.
4. October 1987 – October 1988, student pilot, Initial Entry Rotary Wing course, Ft Rucker, Ala.
5. October 1988 – March 1995, UH-1H/UH-60 Standardization Instructor Pilot, 1st 108th Combat Aviation Battalion
Kansas Army National Guard, Topeka, Kan.
6. March 1995 – June 1995, officer candidate, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 1995 – April 1997, MH-60G Aircraft Commander, 55th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. May 1997 – June 1998, MH-53J student pilot, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
9. June 1998 – June 2000, MH-53J/M instructor pilot, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. June 2000 – April 2002, Air Force Intern, Washington, D.C.
11. April 2002 – December 2004, MH-53J/M Weapons Officer / Evaluator 21st Special Operations Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom.
12. December 2004 – November 2005, Aide de Camp to Deputy Commander, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
13. November 2005 – April 2008, Deputy Branch Chief Special Activities, USCENTCOM Operations Division,
MacDill AFB, Fla.
14. April 2008 – July 2009, CV-22B Student Pilot, 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM.
15. July 2009 – May 2011, Director of Operations, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM.
16. May 2011 – May 2013, Commander, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM.
17. May 2013 – June 2014, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
18. June 2014 –December 2014, Deputy Division Chief, Iran Division, J5 Joint Staff, Pentagon, D.C.
19. January 2015 – June 2016, Vice Wing Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
20. June 2016 – Present, Wing Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 3,500
Aircraft flown: TH-55, UH-1H, UH-60, MH-60G, MH-53J/M, MV-22A, CV-22B, U-28A, MC-130H, AC-130U
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Distinguished Flying Cross with V device
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant June 23, 1995
First Lieutenant July 1, 1997
Captain July 1, 1999
Major November 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2009
Colonel October 1, 2014
(Current as of June 2016)