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COLONEL ALAIN D. POISSON

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Colonel Alain D. Poisson is the Commander, 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He is responsible for Air Combat Command's fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning & Control System aircraft and ground-based Control & Reporting Centers supporting combatant commanders worldwide. He leads over 3,800 men and women at 4 Air Force bases and manages resources that include 31 E-3 AWACS aircraft and 2 CRCs valued at $16.1 billion. Colonel Poisson also oversees Air Combat Command’s largest Programmed Flying Training Unit and its non-aircraft specific functional training.
 
Colonel Poisson was commissioned as a 1993 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He is also a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School. Prior to assuming his current position, Colonel Poisson served as the Director, Multi-Domain Command and Control Focus Area, Air Force Strategic Integration Group, Headquarters, United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington D.C. He also served as the Executive Assistant to the Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5 and the Assistant Deputy Director, Joint Strategic Plans, J-5, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington D.C.
 
Colonel Poisson is a Master Air Battle Manager with operational experience on multiple weapon systems, including over 3,260 hours in the E-3B/C/G and E-8C aircraft.  
 
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science Degree in Legal Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1999 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Masters of Aviation Science Degree in Aviation Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Nellis    
         AFB, Nev.
2007 Masters of Military Operational Arts and Science and Distinguished Graduate; Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air War College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Masters of Science in National Resource Strategy, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
 
ASSIGNMENTS
  1. August 1993 – September 1994, Emergency Actions Controller, 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, Neb.
  2. September 1994 – January 1995, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
  3. February 1995 – July 1995, E-3 Flight Training, 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
  4. August 1995 – November 1997, E-3 Evaluator, Instructor, Weapons Director, Senior Director, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
  5. December 1997 – June 2000, Replacement Training Unit Evaluator Senior Director, and Chief of Tactics, 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
  6. July 1999 – December 1999, Student, Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  7. July 2000 – January 2001, E-8 Flight Training, 93rd Training Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
  8. January 2001 – July 2002, Chief Weapons and Tactics, Flight Commander, E-8 Evaluator Senior Director, 12th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
  9. July 2002 – June 2003, Chief Weapons and Tactics, 621st Air Control Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
  10. July 2003 – July 2006, Weapons School Instructor, Operations Officer, 8th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  11. August 2006 – June 2007, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  12. July 2007 – February 2009, Air Battle Manager Career Field Manager, Directorate of Air Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, HQ U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  13. March 2009 – May 2009, Student, E-3 Mission Crew Commander, 552nd Training Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
  14. June 2009 – July 2011, Commander, 552nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
  15. July 2011 – June 2012, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy National Defense University, Washington D.C.
  16. June 2012 – June 2014, Deputy Division Chief, Requirements, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium
  17. June 2014 – July 2016, Commander, 552nd Operations Group, Tinker AFB, Okla
  18. July 2016 – February 2017, Assistant Deputy Director, Joint Strategic Planning, Joint Staff (J-5), Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  19. February 2017 – July 2018, Executive Assistant to the Director, Joint Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff (J-5), Pentagon, Washington D.C.
  20. July 2018 – June 2019, Director, Multi-Domain Command and Control, Air Force Strategic Integration Group, HQ U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Air Battle Manager
Flight Hours: 3,263
Aircraft Flown:  E-3B/C/G, E-8C
 
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
 
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant      June 2, 1993
First Lieutenant          June 2, 1995
Captain                       June 2, 1997
Major                         October 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel    October 1, 2008
Colonel                      October 1, 2014
 
(Current of as June 2019)