Colonel Jeffrey H. Welborn is the Deputy Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The center develops, implements, executes and evaluates all Air Force aviation, occupational, weapons, space and nuclear surety programs to preserve combat capability and save lives. Additional missions are to develop strategic guidance to promote safety awareness, provide technical support and oversight for mishap investigations, evaluate safety programs to ensure policy implementation, direct the Air Force Risk Management program and provide accredited education to safety professionals across the Department of Defense.
Prior to his current assignment he was the Commander, 14th Mission Support Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. In this capacity he assisted and provided military advice to the Wing Commander on the development and implementation of goals, plans, policies and procedures to accomplish all wing support activities. As commander, he provided essential services with a 750-person workforce and $38 million budget, operated and maintained facilities and infrastructure for a 6,013-acre pilot training base and provided law enforcement, force protection, logistics, fuel, fire protection, communications, contracting, civil engineer, education, recreation, and personnel management for over 10,000 people. He is a Joint Qualified Officer.
Colonel Welborn graduated from the University of Georgia and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1997. He is a Master Navigator with experience in multiple aircraft to include the C-141B, AC-130H, and the T-43A.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell, AFB, AL
2006 Master of Arts in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
2008 Air Command and Staff College, via Correspondence
2011 US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
2012 Joint Combined Warfighting School, JPMEII, Norfolk, VA
2014 Air War College, via Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1997 – April 1998, student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, NAS Pensacola, FL
2. April 1998 – December 1998, student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, TX
3. March 1999 – June 1999, student, C-141B Initial Qualification, Altus AFB, OK
4. June 1999 – August 2000, Squadron Scheduler, C-141B Wing Navigator, 16th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
5. September 2000 – September 2001, student, AC-130H Initial Qualification, 19th Special Operations Squadron, HurlburtField, FL
6. September 2001 – July 2003, Contingency Plans Officer, later, Chief of Contingency Plans, 16th Special OperationsSquadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
7. July 2003 – March 2006, Flight Commander and Instructor Navigator, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
8. March 2006 – June 2006, student, T-43A Initial Qualification, Randolph AFB, TX
9. June 2006 – September 2007, Instructor Navigator and Squadron Executive Officer, 562d Flying Training Squadron,Randolph AFB, TX
10. September 2007 - March 2009, Assistant Director of Operations and Evaluator Navigator, 562d Flying Training Squadron,Randolph AFB, TX
11. March 2009 – January 2010, Chief Wing Executive Officer, 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, TX
12. February 2010 – November 2010, Director of Operations and Evaluator Navigator, 562d Flying Training Squadron,Randolph AFB, TX
13. January 2011 – December 2011, student, US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS
14. January 2012 – March 2012, student, Joint Combined Warfighting School (JPMEII) Norfolk, VA
15. March 2012 – June 2014, Liaison Officer, later, CENTCOM Branch Chief, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Dahlgren, VA
16. June 2014 – June 2015, Deputy Director of Operations (J3), Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Dahlgren, VA
17. July 2015 – June 2018, Commander, AFROTC Detachment 005, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
18. June 2018 – July 2020, Chief, Special Operations Support Team, ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, Washington,D.C.
19. July 2020 – July 2022, Commander, 14th Mission Support Group, Columbus AFB, MS
20. August 2022 – Present, Vice Commander, Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, NM
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Air Force Chief of Safety Aircrew of Distinction Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Life Member, Air Force Association
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: More than 1,900
Aircraft Flown: T-34C, T-43A, T-1A, T-6A, C-141B, and AC-130H/U
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, 28 May 1997
First Lieutenant, 28 May 1999
Captain, 28 May 2001
Major, 1 March 2007
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 May 2012
Colonel, 1 Nov 2018
(Current as of January 2023)