Colonel Jennifer Casillo is the Deputy Commander, 168th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The 168th Wing provides the U.S. Air Force the capabilities of global reach and vigilance through the combined operations of air refueling, missile warning, and space surveillance. The unit maintains a constant watch and commitment for Pacific Air Forces, Northern and Air Force Space Commands, and the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command Region.
Colonel Casillo completed the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., in 1997 where she received her commission. After commissioning, she attended the Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Course and has been an aircraft maintenance officer ever since. While on active duty Colonel Casillo served at Nellis AFB, Nevada, and Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. She then went on to serve in the Air Force Reserves at Patrick AFB, Fla., before joining the Alaska Air National Guard.
Colonel Casillo was a traditional reservist and Guardsman from 2003 - 2016 while she pursued her civilian career as a commercial helicopter pilot. During this period she accumulated over 4,000 helicopter flight hours conducting single pilot operations on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, glaciers tours and contract work in Alaska, and natural disaster relief from hurricanes in Louisiana. In 2015, Colonel Casillo took a hiatus from her flying career and accepted a fulltime tour as a squadron commander. Her and her husband are also co-founders of and operate a non-profit in Alaska providing outdoor therapeutic experiences for wounded combat veterans. She has had a robust military career with deployments to Germany, Romania, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and Guam. Colonel Casillo has served as a maintenance officer in ACC, AFSOC, AFRC, AFMC, and the ANG working with M/HH-60s, M/HC-130s, F-16s, MH-53s, C-17s, and KC-135s.
Prior to her current position, Colonel Casillo was the Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander, Air Force Sustainment Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
EDUCATION
1997 Colorado State University, Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Fort Collins, Colo.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1998 – August 1998, Maintenance Management Flight Commander, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2. August 1998 – October 2000, Assistant Sortie Generation Flight Commander, Nellis AFB, Nev.
3. October 2000 – December 2002, MC-130 Deputy Sortie Generation Flight Commander, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, U.K.
4. December 2002 – November 2003, Equipment Avionics Flight Commander, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.
5. November 2003 – October 2005, Maintenance Officer, Patrick AFB, Fla.
6. October 2005 – April 2006, Commander, 920th Maintenance Operations Flight, Patrick AFB, Fla.
7. April 2006 – November 2010, Commander, 920th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.
8. November 2010 – October 2013, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska
9. October 2013 – February 2016, Commander, 176th Maintenance Operations Flight, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
10. February 2016 – April 2019, Commander, 176th Maintenance Squadron, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
11. April 2019 – August 2023, Commander, 168th Maintenance Group, Eielson AFB, Alaska
12. August 2023 – July 2025, Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander, Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Alaska
13. July 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 168th Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with oak leaf cluster
Iraq Campaign Medal with oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 'M' Device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, Jan. 17,1998 First Lieutenant, Jan. 17, 2000
Captain, Jan. 17, 2002
Major, April 15, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel, April 15, 2015
Colonel, Sep. 30, 2020
(Current as of Aug 2025)