People
Active duty 3,149
Officers 288
Second lieutenant 20
First lieutenant 29
Captain 87
Major 93
Lieutenant colonel 47
Colonel 11
Brigadier general 1
Enlisted 2,861
Airman basic 7
Airman 58
Airman first class 438
Senior airman 825
Staff sergeant 772
Technical sergeant 443
Master sergeant 249
Senior master sergeant 46
Chief master sergeant 23
Male 2,657
Female 564
Dorm residents 392
Deployed 292
Reserve 1,466
Active status 38
Air Reserve technicians 25
Civilians 820
Mission
To train the world’s greatest F-35 and F-16 fighter pilots.
Training (Fiscal 2015)
F-16
B-course graduates 83
Current students 61
F-35
B-course graduates 9
Current students 11
MRA graduates 313
Current students 44
Leadership
Wing commander: Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus
Vice wing commander: Col. David Shoemaker
Director of staff: Lt. Col. Jason Cooper
Command chief: Chief Master Sgt. John Mazza
Operations Group commander:
Col. William Bailey
Maintenance Group commander:
Col. Ricky Ainsworth
Mission Support Group commander:
Col. James Kossler
Medical Group commander: Col. Maureen Charles
Wing staff agencies
Demographics: There are 51 military and 70 civilian members.
Mission and leadership
Comptroller squadron: Pays Airmen and bills, provides commanders resources and advice needed to execute missions.
Commander: Maj. Joseph Nicholas
Equal opportunity: Assists in eliminating the effects of social problems that detract from the mission.
Director: Ronald Goodwin
Command post: Serves as the eyes and ears for the wing commander 24-hours-a-day and as the nerve center for Luke Air Force Base operations
Chief, command post: Maj. Mark Cretella
Chapel: A spiritual needs-based ministry impacting the wing and air expeditionary force missions, anytime anyplace
Wing chaplain: Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Larry Fowler
Historian: Documents the activities of Luke AFB and provides historical reference services.
Historian: Richard Griset
Inspector general: An independent agency that investigates complaints, allegations of reprisal, improper mental health referrals, fraud, waste and abuse.
IG: Lt. Col Curtis St. Amand
Information protection: Provides a secure environment for protecting sensitive information assets and enabling sustainable capability for seamless information exchange.
Chief: Master Sgt. Bruce Thompson
Staff judge advocate: Provides legal services for the 56th FW
Staff judge advocate: Lt. Col. Joel England
Deputy: Maj. Sara Carrasco
Public affairs: Provides information on Luke issues, programs and base events to Airmen, the community and news media; provides counsel to leaders; programs are designed to increase public understanding of the wing’s mission.
Chief: Maj. Matthew Hasson
Deputy chief: Kiley Dougherty
Sexual assault prevention and response office: Ensures victims of sexual assault receive the care and support they require; uses education and intervention to foster an environment free of sexual assault.
SAPR coordinator: Sylvia Jones
Safety office: Provides the wing with risk management processes to facilitate the commander’s safety programs.
Chief: Lt. Col. Michael Cowan
Flight safety: Maj. John Pitts
Ground safety manager: Bernard Bruce
Wing Plans and Programs: Enhances Thunderbolt readiness in support of wing and headquarters planning, execution and expeditionary force objectives.
Chief: Lt. Col. Jeremiah Reed
Protocol: Focal point for organizing distinguished visitor visits to Luke; provides policy and procedural guidance, proper protocol requirements and special handling for distinguishing visitors, dignitaries and official military ceremonies and social functions
Chief: 1st Lt. Amanda Steele
Range Management/Airspace: Provides management of the air-to-air and air-to-ground tactical aviation range complexes and airspace while incorporating environment stewardship of the natural and cultural resources on the Barry M. Goldwater Range.
Director: Chas Buchanan
Community initiatives team: Serves as the primary liaison between the 56th FW commander and surrounding political subdivisions, developers and major stakeholders interested in coordinating compatible land development in areas impacted by the flying mission of Luke AFB.
Director: Rusty Mitchell
Wing staff agencies superintendent: Senior Master Sgt. Jason Lorhr
First sergeant: Master Sgt. Brandy Rucker
