Colonel PAUL GOLANDO Colonel Paul Golando is Deputy Commander of the 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Florida. He leads the wing's special operations forces ensuring unit readiness for worldwide deployments in support of combatant commands as well as directs wing headquarters staff functions. As Air Force Reserve Command's only special operations wing, the 919th Special Operations Wing conducts formal training unit flight instruction and special operations missions in AC-130J, U-28, C-146 and MQ-9 aircraft. Colonel Golando commissioned in 2002 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served in a variety of squadron, group, and joint positions including the 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. and the 607th Air Operations Center and Air Support Operations Group, Osan Air Base, South Korea. He has deployed as Director, J5, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component - Afghanistan and as the Deputy Commander, Joint Special Operations Air Component – Africa. Colonel Golando also served as Commander, 39th Rescue Squadron, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. In his civilian capacity, he is a B-737 pilot with a major U.S. airline. Prior to his current position, he was the Individual Mobilization Assistant to the Chief, Combat Operations, 613th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Hawaii. EDUCATION 2002 Bachelor of Science, Physics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2011 Master of Science, Aerospace Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla. 2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (by correspondence) 2021 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (by correspondence) 2024 Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. ASSIGNMENTS 1. January 2003 – July 2003, Student Pilot, 3rd Flying Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. 2. July 2003 – April 2004, Student Pilot, Training Squadron Thirty-Five, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas 3. October 2004 – August 2007, C-130 Pilot, Chief of Training, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas 4. August 2007 – March 2009, AC-130H Pilot, Flight Commander, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 5. March 2009 – June 2012, AC-130H Pilot, Chief of Wing A3 Operations, 27th Special Operations Support Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. 6. June 2012 – June 2013, Deputy Master Air Attack Plan Cell, 607th Air Operations Center, Osan Air Base, South Korea 7. June 2013 – August 2014, 8th Army Air Liaison Officer, 607th Air Support Operations Group, Osan AB, South Korea 8. August 2014 – May 2016, Assistant Director of Operations, 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 9. May 2016 – November 2017, Director of Readiness Training Center, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 10.December 2017 – August 2021, Assistant Director of Operations, 859th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla. 11.August 2021 – January 2022, Deputy Commander, 920th Operations Group, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. 12.January 2022 – July 2024, Commander, 39th Rescue Squadron, Patrick SFB, Fla. 13. July 2024 – October 2025, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Chief, Combat Operations, 613 AOC, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. 14. October 2025 – present, Deputy Commander, 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Fla. FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command Pilot Flight hours: more than 3,800 hours including 2,000 hours of combat/combat support Aircraft flown: T-6, TC-12, C-130E/H, AC-130H, AC-130U, 737, C-146, HC-130J MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters Air Force Combat Action Medal EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant May 28, 2002 First Lieutenant May 28, 2004 Captain May 28, 2006 Major May 1, 2012 Lieutenant Colonel November 30, 2018 Colonel August 2024 (Current as of October 2025)