AIR FORCE WEATHER AGENCY
COMMANDEDRS
JOHN L. HAYES,
Colonel, United States Air Force
First Commander Air Force Weather Agency
15 October 1997 - 24 September 1998
John L. Hayes was born in Toledo, OH, and graduated from
high school in 1966. He was commissioned in June 1970 through the
Reserve Officer training corps program at Bowling Green State
University. In August 1970, he entered active duty as a meteorology
student at the University of Oklahoma and completed the program in
1971. Colonel Hayes married the former Sharon Marie Ciprian of
Bedford, OH. They raised three children: Laurel, Jennifer, and Marc.
His hometown is Maumee, OH.
Colonel Hayes commanded at the detachment, squadron,
center, and field operating agency level. He held various weather
officer positions throughout Air Force Weather. His staff experience
included chief of the numerical weather prediction section and
operations staff officer at Air Force Global Weather Central, directors of Aerospace
Development and Strategic Planning at Headquarters Air Weather Service, director of weather at
Air Force Materiel Command, and as vice commander of Air Weather Service.
For a brief period, he served as both commander of both Air Force Global Weather
Center and Air Weather Service. As the commander of Air Force Weather Agency he led over
1100 agency members at nine locations. During his tenure, he led the merger of Headquarters
Air Weather Service and Air Force Global Weather Center into a coherent field operating agency
providing centralized operational support to the Nation’s operational organizations, conducting
staff functions for Air Force Weather, and providing centralized weather products and services to
DoD activities. Colonel Hayes championed the use of emerging Internet/web based technologies
to extend delivery of product and services to remote users. He initiated a restructuring of the
weather production operations along theater lines so products were tailored specifically to meet
theater needs. As Air Force Weather’s total transformation (also referred to as “AFW
reengineering”) began, he directed the development of strategies and plans to reallocate agency
resources to keep pace with the evolving strategies of Air Force Weather reengineering. He
guided the staff in the development of Air Force Weather’s Mission Support Plan [a Weather
85/Weather 2000 like document] that would serve the weather force as the basis for modernizing
Air Force Weather beyond reengineering with a focus on improved warfighter success.
On 4 April 1998, AFWA’s noncommissioned officers recognized Col Hayes’ significant
contributions to the welfare and prestige of the AFWA enlisted force by awarding him the Order
of the Sword.4
4
Ibid., #186
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EDUCATION:
1970 Bachelor of Science degree, Mathematics, Bowling Green University
1973 Squadron Officer School
1975 Master’s degree, Meteorology, US Navy Post Graduate School
1978 Air Command and Staff College
1983 Doctoral degree, Meteorology, US Navy Post Graduate School
1986 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. August 1970 – August 1971, student, Air Force Institute of Technology,
2. August 1971 - December 1972, weather officer, 3rd Weather Wing, Shaw AFB, SC. First
Lieutenant
3. January 1973 - July 1975, weather officer to Detachment 1, Strategic Reconnaissance Wing,
weather officer to 376 Strategic Wing, Officer in Charge, Defense Meteorology Program Site,
Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
4. October 1975 - March 1977, student, Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Institute of
Technology Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA.
5. April 1977 – June 1979, Chief, Numerical Weather Prediction Section, AFGWC, Offutt AFB,
NE.
6. June 1979 - August 1980, Operations Staff Officer AFGWC, Offutt AFB, NE.
7. August 1980 - March 1983, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Naval Post Graduate
School, Monterey, CA.
8. April 1983 - June 1985, Detachment 1, HQ AWS, Pentagon, Washington, DC.
9. June 1985 - June 1988, Director, Aerospace Development Directorate and Director, Strategic
Planning, HQ, AWS, Scott AFB, IL.
10. June 1988 - June 1991, Commander, detachment 30, 2nd Weather Squadron, Vandenberg
AFB, CA.
11. June 1991 - Jul 1992, Commander, Detachment 1, 2nd weather Squadron, Vandenberg AFB,
CA.
12. July 1992 - June 1994, Director of Weather, HQ AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
13. June 1994 - May 1995, Vice Commander, HQ AWS, Scott AFB, Il.
14. May 1995- October 1997, Commander Air Force Global Weather Center, Offutt AFB, NE.
15. September 1997 – October 1997, Commander Air Weather Service, Scott AFB, IL.
16. October 1997 - September 1998, Commander Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB NE.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational excellence award with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
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EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant, 3 June 1970
First Lieutenant, 12 February 1972
Captain, 12 April 1974
Major, 1 July 1982
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 January 1987
Colonel, 1 June 1992
CHARLES W. FRENCH,
Colonel, United States Air Force
Second Commander of Air Force Weather Agency
25 September 1998 - 12 November 2000
Charles W. French was born in Philadelphia, PA and graduated
as valedictorian from Wissahickon Senior High School, Ambler, PA. In
1971, he was selected as distinguished Air Force Reserve Officer
Training Corps program graduate while receiving a Bachelor of Science
degree in environmental sciences from Rutgers University. Colonel
French was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1971 and
immediately attended graduate school at Pennsylvania State University.
He reported for active duty following graduate school in August 1973
to Air Force Global Weather Central, Offutt Air Force Base, NE, where
he became an automated systems analyst. He was instrumental in
developing and fielding the first real-time satellite global data base for
use in providing cloud analyses and forecasts to special strategic programs.
Colonel French commanded at the detachment level at Howard AB, Panama and George
AFB, CA. His staff experience included staff weather officer and liaison to the Techniques
Development Laboratory of the National Weather Service; staff weather officer to the 193rd
Infantry Brigade and staff support to the USSOUTHCOM Joint Reconnaissance Center and
Theater Intelligence Center where he earned the Best Staff Weather Officer award in 1984 for all
of Air Weather Service. He also provided staff support at Military Airlift Command as chief of
Weather Computer Programs where he awarded 12 contracts valued at over $100 million. He
was selected as Outstanding Contributor to Contracting in 1989 and Resource Advisor of the
Year in 1990 for Military Airlift Command. He obtained additional staff experience serving as
director of communications at Headquarters Air Weather Service; deputy program manager for
DoD at the Joint Systems Program Office for Next Generation Weather Radar; and as chief
policy division, at AF Directorate of Weather.
As commander of Air Force Weather Agency, he led over 1000 agency members at 19
locations around the world providing centralized weather products and services to DoD
activities. Significant during his tenure included the award of the Theodore von Karman Award
in recognition of AFWA’s outstanding scientific contributions to the national defense during
1999. Faced with the challenge of ensuring different missions and responsibilities were met with
an equitable share of the resources, he directed the creation and execution of innovative
strategies to reallocate available resources to meet needs of competing mission areas. He
resolved the final pieces of the initial relocation and reengineering of AFWA and its relationship
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with the newly formed operational weather squadrons, thus ensuring the “Air Force weather
weapon system” was working efficiently.
Colonel French married the former Mary Chase of Omaha, NE. They raised a daughter,
Christine Elisabeth.
EDUCATION
1971 Bachelor of Science degree, Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University
1974 Master of Science degree, Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University
1976 Squadron Officer School
1981 Master of Science degree, Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University
1982 Air Command and Staff College
1988 Air War College
ASSIGNMENT AND DATES
1. August 1973-July 1978, automated systems analyst, Air Force Global Weather Central, Offutt
AFB NE
2. July 1978-January 1982, staff weather officer and liaison, Techniques Development
Laboratory of the National Weather Service, Silver Spring, MD
3. January 1982-May 1983, staff officer, 193d Infantry Brigade, Howard Air Base, Panama
4. May 1983-January 1985, staff support liaison to USSOUTHCOM, Quarry Heights, Panama
4. March 1985-March 1988, commander, Weather Detachment, 831st Air Division, George
AFB, CA
5. March 1988-April 1991, chief of weather computer programs, Airlift Communications
Division, Scott AFB, IL
6. April 1991-August 1992, director of communications and computer systems, Headquarters Air
Weather Service, Scott AFB, IL
7. August 1992-June 1994, deputy program manager for DoD Next Generation Weather Radar,
Joint Systems Program Office, Silver Spring, MD
8. June 1994-June 1995, chief policy division, directorate of weather, deputy chief of staff, Plans
and Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington DC
9. June 1995-September 1998, director of weather, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, HI
10. September 1998-November 2000, commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, NE
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 04 Jun 71
First Lieutenant 04 Jun 74
Captain 04 Jun 76
Major 01 Mar 84
Lieutenant Colonel 01 Dec 88
Colonel 01 Aug 94
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ROBERT H. ALLEN,
Colonel, United States Air Force
Third Commander of Air Force Weather Agency
13 November 2000- 4 August 2002
Robert H. Allen was commissioned in June 1973 upon
graduation from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
Springs, CO. His assignments included support to fighters, strategic
airlift, satellite operations and the National Reconnaissance Office. He
was an instructor aerial reconnaissance weather officer with over 800
flight hours in the WC-130. He deployed as the USAFE Officer in
Charge of weather support for DESERT STORM combat operations
based in Turkey followed by humanitarian support to Operation
PROVIDE COMFORT. He commanded at the detachment, squadron,
and field operating agency levels. The Colonel’s staff experience
included positions as assistant chief, science and Technology Division, Headquarters Air
Weather Service, chief of Production Branch and Special Projects Branch, Air Force Global
Weather Central, and director of weather, Tanker Airlift Control Center. He also served as the
chief, Plans Division and as deputy director, AF Directorate of Weather.
As the commander Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) he led over 1000 agency
members at 20 locations around the world providing centralized weather products and services to
various Department of Defense activities. He was also responsible for providing technical
support to AF weather units, for standardization of AF-wide weather equipment and procedures
and for the acquisition and fielding of standard weather systems. He continued the reorganization
of Air Force Weather, which began when he was the AF Deputy Director of Weather, with the
consolidation of weather support at Offutt AFB. This included the integration of staff activities
begun with the redesignation, relocation and consolidation of Air Weather Service with the AF
Global Weather Center in Oct 1997 when he was AFWA’s vice commander.
Significant during his tenure as commander was his leadership of the agency as it surged
in response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, New York,
NY. In addition to keeping the organization focused on the Global War on Terrorism, he led
AFWA through a historic period of change. The 7-year acquisition of Cloud Depiction and
Forecast System II reached full operational capability; Detachment 7 was inactivated and the
Automated Digital Weather Switch function as moved from Tinker to AFWA’s Weather Data
Collection and Dissemination System at Offutt; the Strategic Communications Program achieved
full operational capability delivering 200 times more weather data/products to the warfighter
than the dedicated AWN circuits could; the 55th Space Weather Squadron at Schriever AFB, CO
was inactivated and AFWA’s Space Weather Operations Center assumed responsibility for space
weather operations; and AFWA tuned off its “mainframe computers” as the new server based
architecture reached maturity.
EDUCATION
1973 Bachelor of Science, Basic Sciences, United States Air Force Academy
1974 Basic Meteorology Program, North Carolina State University
1978 Squadron Officer School
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1980 Master’s Degree, Meteorology, University of Oklahoma at Norman
1982 Air Command and Staff College
1987 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS AND DATES
1. June 1973-August 1974, meteorology student, Air Force Institute of Technology, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
2. August 1974-December 1976, forecaster, Ft Rucker, AL
3. December 1976-December 1978, instructor aerial reconnaissance weather officer, 54th
Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
4. December 1978-May 1980, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of
Oklahoma, Norman, OK
5. May 1980-February 1983, assistance chief, Science and Technology Division, Headquarters
Air Weather Service, Scott AFB, IL
6. February 1983-July 1985, commander, Detachment 14, 25th Weather Squadron, Holloman Air
Force Base, NM
7. July 1985-July1988, chief, Production Branch, and chief, Special Projects Branch, Air Force
Global Weather Central, Offutt Air Force Base, NE
8. July 1988-July 1991, chief, Operations, 31 St Weather Squadron, Sembach Air Base,
Germany
9. July 1991-January 1992, commander, 15th Weather Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
10. January 1992-July 1992, chief, Weather Support Division, Directorate of Weather, Deputy
Chief of Staff for Operations and Transportation, Headquarters Military Airlift Command
11. July 1992-September 1994, commander, 375th Weather Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, IL,
dual hatted as Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) Director of Weather
12. October 1994-June 1995, director of weather, Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC),
Headquarters Air Mobility Command Scott Air Force Base, IL
13. June 1995-Jnly 1996, chief, Plans Division, Directorate of Weather, deputy chief of
Staff/Plans and Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force
14. July 1996-July 1997, deputy director of weather, Deputy Chief of Staff/Air and Space
Operations, Headquarters United Sates Air Force
15. August 1997 to August 1998, vice commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt Air Force
Base, NE
16. August 1998 to November 2000, chief, Weather Division, Directorate of Air and Space
Operations, HQ PACAF
17. November 2000 to August 2002, commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB NE
FLIGHT INFORMATION/BADGES
Parachutist Badge
Non-rated Aircrew Member Badge, 800 hrs, WC-130 Instructor Aerial Reconnaissance Weather
Officer
Master Meteorologist Badge
10-56
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
CHARLES L. BENSON, JR.
Colonel, United States Air Force
Fourth Commander of Air Force Weather Agency
5 August 2002 - 1 June 2004
Charles L. Benson, Jr., graduated from Texan A&M University
with a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology in 1977. Upon
completion of Officer Training School, 15 August 1978, he was
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Colonel Benson commanded at
the detachment and group levels, including the United States Air Force
Academy’s 34th Support Group. He served as a wing weather officer in
Korea; executive assistant to the Commander, Air Weather Service; and
Chief of the Advanced Systems Management Section at Air Force
Global Weather Central. His staff experience included Headquarters
USAF, Major Air Command, and Joint Command levels. Some of those
positions included program element monitor in Headquarters USAF's Directorate of Weather;
chief of Force Enhancement Requirements, Headquarters USAF's Directorate of Operational
Requirements; director of weather for Headquarters Air Mobility Command's Tanker Airlift
Control Center; and Chief of Protocol for the Commander in Chief, United States Transportation
Command.
Colonel Benson was vice commander of the Air Force Weather Agency prior to
assuming command of the Agency. As commander, he directed over 1200 agency members at 20
world-wide locations providing centralized weather products and services to DoD activities. He
immediately motivated the organization into a cohesive team focused on providing world-class
weather products and services to the warfighter. This paid off as the United States initiated
hostilities of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Mar 2003. Key capabilities reached initial
operational capability in time for planners to build an effective campaign plan and influence
combat operations. Programs such as Space Weather Analysis and Forecast System delivered
improved space weather products; Three-dimensional Variational Data Assimilation improved
weather model accuracies; and Diagnostic Cloud Forecast model of cloud cover over target
areas. Improved Target Acquisition Weather Software and Infrared Target-Scene Simulation
Software were delivered just in time for initial airstrikes. Colonel Benson continued organization
transformational efforts begun in 1998. Ramey solar observatory was closed and the unclassified
production branch issued their last weather forecast as operational weather squadrons picked up
responsibility of providing point weather warnings and flight hazard forecasts to AF and Army
operations. Looking to the future, he championed the development of a National concept of
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operations for the next generation weather model capability called Weather Research Model
(WRF).
EDUCATION
1977 Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology, Texas A&M University
1978 Officer Training School
1985 Master's degree in Meteorology from St. Louis University
1986 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
1990 Distinguished Graduate, Naval War College's Naval Command & Staff
1991 Master's degree in National Security & Strategic Studies, Naval War College
1995 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS AND DATES
1. September 1978 - April 1981 Wing Weather Officer,, 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing,
Dyess AFB, TX
2. April 1981 - June 1982 Wing Weather Officer, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan
AB, Korea
3. June 1982 - January 1984 Executive Assistant to the Commander, Air Weather
Service, Scott AFB, ILs
4. January 1984 - June 1985 Student, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
5. June 1985 - October 1987 Chief, Advanced Systems Management Section, Air Force
Global Weather Central, Offutt AFB, NE
6. October 1987 - August 1990 Commander, Detachment 23, 9th Weather Squadron,
McConnell AFB, KS
7. August 1990 - December 1991 Student, Naval War College, Newport, RI
8. December 1991 - November 1992 Program Element Monitor, Directorate of Weather,
Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C.
9. November 1992 - August 1994 Chief of Force Enhancement Requirements,
Directorate of Operational Requirements, Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C.
10. August 1994 - June 1995 Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
11. June 1995 - September 1997 Director of Weather, Tanker Airlift Control Center,
Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
12. September 1997 - August 1998 Chief of Protocol, United States Transportation
Command, Scott AFB, IL
13. August 1998 - April 1999 Deputy Commander, 60th Support Group, Travis AFB,
CA
14. April 1999 - May 2001 Commander, 34th Support Group, United States Air Force
Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
15. May 2001 – August 2002 Vice Commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt Air Force
Base, NE
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
10-58
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 15 August 1978
First Lieutenant 15 August 1980
Captain 15 August 1982
Major 1 June 1989
Lieutenant Colonel 1 June 1993
Colonel 1 April 1999
JOHN M. LANICCI,
Colonel, United States Air Force
Fifth Commander of Air Force Weather Agency
2 June 2004 - 8 June 2006
John M. Lanicci was commissioned in May 1979 upon
graduating Summa Cum Laude from Manhattan College, Bronx, NY.
He served as a Wing Weather Officer and Chief of Meteorological
Models during two different tours at Air Force Global Weather Central.
He was a research meteorologist and atmospheric dispersion project
manager at the Air Force Geophysics Lab, Hanscom Air Force Base,
MA.
Col Lanicci commanded at the detachment and squadron levels.
He gained staff experience as Chief, Data Management and
Environment Branch at the Air Force Directorate of Command and
Control, Headquarters USAF, and he served as Chief, Plans Division at the Air Force Directorate
of Weather. Colonel Lanicci spent three years as a full-time faculty member at the Air War
College, where he authored Maxwell Paper No. 29, Weather Operations in the Transformation
Era.
As commander of the Air Force Weather Agency, Col Lanicci led over 800 agency
members at 20 locations around the world providing centralized weather products and services to
the national intelligence community and DOD activities. He focused his immediate actions on
achieving “unity of effort” within the organization. He charted an effort to quantify the value of
weather services to combatant commanders, which resulted in a two-volume AFWA Technical
Note-05/001. He oversaw the design and presided over the ground breaking ceremony of a new
headquarters building for the agency. He was the force behind the preparation and marketing of a
complete portfolio of planning documents created to guide AFWA and AFW down the road of
“Air Force Transformation” during the second decade of the 21st Century.
EDUCATION:
1979 Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Manhattan College, Bronx, NY (Summa Cum
Laude)
1980 Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology, Penn State University, University Park, PA
(With Highest Distinction)
1984 Master of Science degree in Meteorology, Penn State University, University Park, PA
1985 Squadron Officer School
1986 Air Command and Staff College
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1991 Ph.D. in Meteorology, Penn State University, University Park, PA
1996 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS AND DATES:
1. June 1979 — May 1980, Basic Meteorology Program Student, Air Force Institute of
Technology, Penn State University, University Park, PA
2. June 1980 — February 1982, Wing Weather Officer, Air Force Global Weather
Central, Offutt Air Force Base, NE
3. March 1982 — December 1983, Graduate Meteorology Student, Air Force
Institute of Technology, Penn State University, University Park, PA
4. January 1984 — February 1987, Research Meteorologist and Atmospheric Dispersion Project
Manager, Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA
5. March 1987 — April 1988, Commander, Detachment 3, 11th Weather Squadron, Shemya Air
Force Base, AK
6. April 1988 — June 1991, Doctoral Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Penn State
University, University Park, PA
7. July 1991 — February 1995, Assistant Chief, then Chief, Meteorological Models work center,
Air Force Global Weather Central, Offutt Air Force Base, NE
8. March 1995 — September 1997, Chief, Data Management and Environment Branch,
Directorate of Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis, later, Directorate of Command and Control,
Deputy Chief of Staff/Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC
9. September 1997 — June 2000, Commander, 88th Weather Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base, OH
10. June 2000 — July 2003, Professor, Department of Warfighting, and Chief Information
Officer, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
11. July 2003 — June 2004, Chief, Plans Division, Directorate of Weather, Deputy Chief of
Staff/Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC
12. June 2004 — June 2006, Commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, NE
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant — 19 May 1979
First Lieutenant — 30 May 1981
Captain — 30 May 1983
Major — June 1990
Lieutenant Colonel — 1 October 1995
Colonel — 1 August 2001
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PATRICK M. CONDRAY
Colonel, United States Air Force
Sixth Commander of Air Force Weather Agency
8 June 2006 – 26 March 2008
Colonel Patrick M. “Mike” Condray entered the Air Force in
1983 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Texas A&M
University. Besides commanding the Air Force Weather Agency, Col
Condray commanded at the operational weather squadron and weather
detachment levels where he led personnel in support of numerous
operations including, U.S. Army attack helicopter and armored
deployments; Joint Task Force Bravo activities in Honduras;
noncombatant evacuation operations from the Philippines during
Operation FIERY VIGIL; bomber, tanker, and airlift missions during
Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM; and regional
weather operations for the south central U.S. and Headquarters 8th Air Force. He also planned
and led joint U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy weather teams supporting Joint Force Air
Component Commander operations in EUCOM and PACOM. Colonel Condray served in staff
and scientific positions, including environmental analyst (specializing in weather impacts on
precision munitions employment), weather requirements officer at Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces
Europe, and Academic Instructor and Advisor at Air Command and Staff College. Following his
graduation from the School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Colonel Condray served on the Air
Staff as a member of the Aerospace Integration Task Force and as a member of the Air Force
National Defense Review team articulating air and space power issues during the 20002001Quadrennial Defense Review.
During Colonel Condray’s tenure as AFWA’s commander he used his vast operational
and strategic experience to reorganize Air Force Weather Agency into a more objective Air
Force structured unit to separate staff from Air Force weather operation functions. He arranged
the organize, train, and equipping staff functions in an A-Staff structure and placed day-to-day
weather, climatological, and communication/computer functions into separate weather squadrons
aligned under a weather group. With this reorganization Air Force Weather Agency became a
more focused and effective organization providing efficient support to DoD operations.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
1987 Master of Science degree (research) in meteorology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO.
1988 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1996 Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1997 Joint Doctrine Air Campaign Course, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1998 Master of Arts degree in Airpower Arts and Sciences, School of Advanced Airpower
Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2000 Air War College by correspondence
2002 With Highest Distinction Graduate, Naval War College, Master of Arts degree in National
Security Strategy, Newport, R.I.
2003 Joint Aerospace Operations Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, FL.
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ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1983 – August 1985, Staff Weather Officer, Det. 14, 5th Weather Squadron, Fort Hood
AIN, TX.
2. September 1984 – December 1984, Officer in Charge, Base Weather Station, JTF-B,
Palmerola AB, Honduras
3. August 1985 – May 1987, master’s degree student, AFIT/CI, Saint Louis University, St.
Louis, MO.
4. May 1987 – July 1990, Electromagnetic Propagation Analyst, USAFETAC/DNE, Scott AFB,
IL.
5. July 1990 – June 1992, Commander, Det. 2, 20th Weather Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
6. June 1992 – July 1995, Weather Programs Action Officer, HQ USAFE/DOW, Ramstein AB,
Germany
7. August 1995 – June 1996, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
8. June 1996 – July 1997, instructor, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
9. July 1997 – June 1998, student, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL.
10. July 1998 – June 1999, Chief, Aerospace Integration Plan Branch, HAF/XPX-AITF,
Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. June 1999 – July 2001, Deputy Chief, Outreach Division, Quadrennial Defense Review Staff,
HAF/QRO, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. August 2001 – June 2002, student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
13. June 2002 – June 2004, Commander, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale AFB,
LA
14. June 2004 – May 2006, Chief, Weather Operations Division, HQ ACC Langley AFB, VA
15. June 2006 – March 2008, Commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, NE.
16. Mar 2008 – June 2011, Director, NATO Capabilities, Office of the Secretary of Defense
(Policy), OSDP EUR/NATO, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2011 – Present, Military Faculty, National War College, Fort McNair AIN, Washington,
D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 6, 1983
First Lieutenant June 1, 1985
Captain June 1, 1987
Major May 1, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 1998
Colonel June 1, 2004
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JOHN D. MURPHY
Colonel, United States Air Force
Seventh Commander of Air Force Weather Agency
26 March 2008 – 20 April 2010
Also served as the Acting Director of Weather
(Refer to biography in the directorate of weather section)
ROBERT L. RUSSELL
Colonel, United States Air Force
Eighth Commander of Air Force Weather Agency
20 April 2010 – 9 March 2012
Colonel Robert L. Russell entered the Air Force as a graduate of
the Air Force Officer Training School. His previous duty assignments
include assignments at Air Force Global Weather Central, Headquarters
Air Weather Service, Joint Special Operations Command and
Headquarters Air Force. Colonel Russell had the honor and privilege of
commanding the 10th Combat Weather Squadron at Hurlburt Field, the
Department of Defense’s primary provider of Special Operations Weather
Team operators to the Unified Combatant Commanders. He also served as
the Weather Operations Officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, the senior weather officer for both the Air Force and Army Special
Operations Commands, and as a student at the Air War College.
During Colonel Russell's tenure as commander, his leadership and vision were
instrumental to the swift acquisition, fielding, and operational exploitation of $8.7 million in
computing and data storage equipment, data routing solutions, and forecasting techniques and
procedures in response to Central Command’s Joint Urgent Operational Need Statement,
Improving Weather Forecasting. Within 6 months of AF’s acceptance of the “Need”, AFWA
reached initial operational capability providing unprecedented improvement of weather support
to $980 million Persistent Threat Detection System critical surveillance assets at 70 forward
operating bases. Air Force weather forces increased weather forecast and warning accuracy by
10% and delivered nearly instantaneous information to warfighting commanders and surveillance
platform operators. Colonel Russell also orchestrated and oversaw the stand-up of the Air Force
Weather Web Services capability which fused over 600,000 products into Air Force Central
Command’s common operational picture and displayed 400% more products than were
previously available. In addition, he consolidated the agency's computer operations and field
support functions into a single Operations Center, which enabled constant monitoring of
thousands of weather components around the world and led to a 58% timeliness improvement in
executing repairs at field locations as well as at the agency’s $277 million production center. In
addition, Col Russell guided the 1,244 person agency to an "Outstanding" rating; with an
unprecedented 98.82% compliance rating, during its 2011 Air Force-level Unit Compliance
Inspection.
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EDUCATION:
1985 Bachelor’s in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
1990 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
1997 Master’s in Business Administration, Organizational Management, University of Phoenix
2000 Air Command and Staff College, MA in Military Operational Art and Science, Air
University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Air War College, MA in Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. July 1986 – April 1987, Forecaster/Wing Weather Officer, 9th Weather Squadron, Fairchild
AFB, WA
2. April 1987 – January 1991, Wing Weather Officer, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Clark AB,
Philippines
3. February 1991 – May 1993, Chief of Technical Services in Mission Tailored Product and
Contingency Branch, Air Force Global Weather Center, Offutt AFB, NE
4. June 1993 – July 1996, Command Meteorologist, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort
Bragg, NC
5. July 1996 – May 1998, Chief, Operations Programming Branch, HQ Air Weather Service, Scott
AFB, IL
6. June 1998 – June 1999, Chief, Weather Plans and Readiness, HQ Air Force Special Operations
Command, Hurlburt Field, FL
7. July 1999 – June 2000, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
8. June 2000 – July 2002, Commander, 10th Combat Weather Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
9. July 2002 – July 2003, Chief, Air Force and Army Weather Systems, Directorate of Weather,
Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
10. July 2003 – July 2005, Weather Operations Officer, Operations Directorate, Joint Chiefs of
Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
11. July 2005 – June 2007, Weather Division Chief, Air, Space and Information Operations,
Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, FL
12. June 2007 – June 2008, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
13. June 2008 – April 2010, Director, Strategic Plans, Requirements, and Programs, Air Force
Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, NE
14. April 2010 – March 2012, Commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, NE
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Parachutist
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
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EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant--July 25th, 1986
First Lieutenant--July 25, 1988
Captain--July 25, 1990
Major--April 1, 1998
Lieutenant Colonel--October 1, 2002
Colonel--February 1, 2008
LOUIS V. ZUCCARELLO
Colonel, United States Air Force
Ninth Commander of the Air Force Weather Agency
9 March 2012 – Present
Colonel Louis V. Zuccarello was commissioned in 1985 as a
distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at the Pennsylvania State
University. He has commanded a weather group and an operational
weather squadron and has served in a variety of staff and operational
assignments at the Joint Staff, Air Staff, Air Force Weather Agency, Air
Force Personnel Center, HQ Air Weather Service, 100th Air Refueling
Wing and Air Force Global Weather Central.
As Colonel Zuccarello assumed command of the 1400-person
agency he faced a number of challenges. He dedicated his tenure to
continue the development of high-resolution weather modeling
capabilities; lead efforts to mitigate cloud forecasting capability as DoD redefined the military
weather satellite program; integrate other sources of cloud imagery into the cloud forecast
process; and guide planning and programming activities to provide cutting-edge service-based
weather information for integration into warfighter operations as DoD moved into a period of
reduced appropriations. In addition, he continued efforts to successfully field the Joint
Environmental Toolkit Increment 2 and AN/FMQ-22 automated observing capabilities Air
Force-wide, and complete Portable Doppler Radar fielding in Air Force Central Command’s area
of operations to improve the ability to detect micro-scale weather events.
EDUCATION
1985 Bachelor's degree in meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
1986 Squadron Officer School (Correspondence)
1988 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1994 Master's degree in meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
1997 Air Command and Staff College, Seminar
2000 Master's degree in military operational art and science, Air University
2000 Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2002 Air War College, Seminar
2005 Master's degree in national resource strategy, National Defense University
2005 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, DC.
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ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1985 - July 1989, Assistant Team Chief and Team Chief, Special Projects Production
Section, Air Force Global Weather Central, Offutt AFB, NE.
2. July 1989 - July 1992, Wing Weather Officer and Chief, Strategic Air Command Special
Support Cell, 100th Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK.
3. July 1992 - May 1994, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State
University, State College, PA.
4. May 1994 - May 1996, Manager, Future Centralized Weather Programs, Headquarters, Air
Weather Service, Scott AFB, IL.
5. May 1996 - May 1997, Executive Officer and Headquarters, Squadron Section Commander,
Headquarters, Air Weather Service, Scott AFB, IL.
6. May 1997 - July 1999, Chief, Weather Officer Assignments, Headquarters, Air Force
Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX.
7. July 1999 - June 2000, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
8. June 2000 - July 2002, Director of Operations, 15th Operational Weather Squadron,
Scott AFB, IL.
9. July 2002 - July 2004, Commander, 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, IL.
10. July 2004 - June 2005, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft. McNair,
Washington, DC.
11. June 2005 - July 2007, Meteorological and Oceanographic Operations Officer, Joint Staff,
Pentagon, Washington, DC.
12. July 2007 - June 2008, Chief, Weather Resources and Programs Division, Directorate of
Operations and Training, DCS, Operations, Plans & Requirements, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon,
Washington, DC.
13. June 2008 - July 2010, Commander, 1st Weather Group, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt
AFB, Neb.
14. July 2010 - February 2011, Director of Operations, Training and Evaluations, HQ Air Force
Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Neb.
15. February 2011 - March 2012, Vice Commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB,
Neb.
16. March 2012 - present, Commander, Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Neb.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
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EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 18, 1985
First Lieutenant June 16, 1987
Captain June 16, 1989
Major April 1, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel October 1, 2001
Colonel April 1, 2007
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