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Colonel Joseph A. Lindsley

COLONEL JOSEPH A. LINDSLEY

Col Joseph A. Lindsley is the commander, 164th Airlift Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard, Memphis, TN. One of the Air National Guard’s six strategic airlift wings, the 164th provides rapid global mobility in C-17 aircraft supporting National Security Objectives. In peacetime, the 164th reports to the Governor of Tennessee providing emergency relief and support to civil defense authorities preserving peace, order, and public safety. The Wing comprises approximately 1,000 personnel with over 300 military civil service and civilian employees. Col Lindsley also serves as the ANG Airspace and Ranges Council Chairman, Southern Region, providing strategic input to senior leaders to develop airspace for current and future DoD requirements. 

Col Lindsley enlisted in the Air National Guard as an air traffic control specialist in 1999.  As a controller with the 248th Air Traffic Control Squadron, he was a dual-qualified tower/radar watch supervisor.  He deployed to Mosul AAF, Iraq, in 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In 2006, he commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, TN.  He is a Command Pilot with over 4300 hours in the C-17A, C-5A, KC-135R, T-1A, and T-37A.  Col Lindsley has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, and the Pacific Tanker Task Force.  He has also flown in support of numerous contingency operations in the KC-135R, C-5A and C-17A amassing over 1200 combat hours.  Prior to his current assignment, Col Lindsley served as the Commander, 164th Mission Support Group.

 

EDUCATION

2004 Bachelor’s of Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Technical Management, Daytona Beach, FL

2006 Academy of Military Science, McGee-Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, TN

2012 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence

2015 Advanced Instrument School, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City, OK

2017 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2018 ANG Squadron Commander’s Course, Andrews AFB, MD

2018 TN ANG Commander’s Course, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, TN

2020 Air War College, by correspondence

2022 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington, DC

2023 Aviation Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM

2024 Commander’s Leadership Course, Andrews AFB, MD

2025 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlbert Field, FL

2025 Master’s of Christian Studies, Union University, Jackson, TN

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. September 1999 – February 2006, Air Traffic Controller, 248th Air Traffic Control Squadron, Meridian, MS (Mar-Sep 2004 Radar Controller, Mosul AAF, Iraq)
  2. March 2006 – April 2007, student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, MS
  3. April 2007-October 2010, KC-135R Pilot, 153d Air Refueling Squadron, Meridian, MS (Mar-Apr 2009, KC-135R Pilot, Pacific Tanker Task Force, Andersen AFB, Guam, Jun-Aug 2009, KC-135R Pilot, 379th AEW, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
  4. October 2010-January 2013, C-5A Pilot, 155th Airlift Squadron, Memphis, TN
  5. January 2013-November 2015, Current Operations Officer, C-17A Aircraft Commander, 155th Airlift Squadron, Memphis, TN
  6. November 2015-January 2017, Chief, Operations Group Training, C-17A Instructor Aircraft Commander, 164th Operations Group, Memphis, TN
  7. January 2017-May 2018, Flight Commander/Assistant Director of Operations, Evaluator Pilot, 155th Airlift Squadron, Memphis, TN (Jan-Feb 2017 Director of Mobility Forces Executive Officer, Osan AB, South Korea)
  8. May 2018-November 2022, Commander, 164th Operations Support Squadron, Memphis, TN (September 2019-February 2021, Air Operations Officer, 164th Operations Group)
  9. November 2022-August 2023, Deputy Commander, 164th Mission Support Group, Memphis, TN
  10. August 2023-February 2026, Commander, 164th Mission Support Group, Memphis, TN
  11. February 2026-present, Commander, 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis, TN

 

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot

Flight hours: 4,400

Aircraft flown: C-17A, C-5A, KC-135R, T-1A, T-37

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters

Air Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters

Army Commendation Medal

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant February 16, 2006

First Lieutenant February 16, 2008

Captain February 16, 2010

Major May 15, 2014

Lieutenant Colonel September 6, 2018

Colonel August 7, 2023

 

(Current as of February 2026)