Col Patrick K. McClintock is the Commander, 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The 437th Airlift Wing deploys Airmen and aircraft worldwide in support of contingency operations that involve the airland and airdrop delivery of forces, equipment, and supplies. These missions support combat operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed special operations missions and United States sponsored humanitarian relief efforts.
Born in Ukiah, Calif., Col McClintock commissioned in 2001 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. His staff experiences include development of the Joint Warfighting Concept while working on the Joint Staff and the planning and execution of airlift operations across the Pacific theater while assigned to the 613th Air Operations Center. Prior to his current position, Col McClintock was the Commander, 62d Operations Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Col McClintock is a distinguished graduate from National Defense University and Air Command and Staff College. He has flown and led operational and combat missions around the globe and served in Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. He is a command pilot with more than 4400 flying hours and has held various aircrew flying assignments in the C-5A and C-17A.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Humanities, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Master of Arts in Humanities, American Military University
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (Distinguished Graduate)
2019 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Washington D.C. (Distinguished Graduate)
ASSIGNMENTS
1.September 2001 – September 2002, Student, Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
2.January 2003 – December 2004, Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer, 22nd Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
3.January 2005 – December 2006, Chief, C-5 Wing Weapons and Tactics, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.
4.January 2007 – January 2009, Flight Commander, 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
5.February 2009 – May 2010, Deputy Chief, Command Post, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
6.June 2010 – July 2012, Chief, Stan/Eval, 436th Operations Group, Dover AFB, Del.
7.August 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8.July 2013 – June 2015, Chief, Airlift Control Team, Air Mobility Division, 613th Air Operations Center, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
9.June 2015 – June 2016, Deputy Director, Commanders Action Group, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
10.June 2016 – June 2018 – Commander, 502d Operations Support Squadron, JB San Antonio-Kelly Field, Texas
11.June 2018 – July 2019 – Executive Officer to the Commander, USAF Expeditionary Center, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
12.July 2019 – June 2020 – Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
13.June 2020 – June 2021– Analyst, Joint Staff, J-7 Joint Force Integration Directorate, Joint Force Development Team, Pentagon, Va.
14.June 2021 – June 2022 – Deputy Executive Assistant, Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Va.
15.June 2022 – May 2023 – Chief, Mobility Air Forces Division, Operations and Training Directorate, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Va.
16.June 2023 – June 2025 – Commander, 62d Operations Group, JB Lewis-McChord, Wash.
17.July 2025 – Present – Commander, 437th Airlift Wing, JB Charleston, SC
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1.June 2020 – June 2021, Analyst, Joint Staff, J-7 Joint Force Integration Directorate, Joint Force Development Team, Pentagon, Va., as a Lieutenant Colonel
2.June 2021 – June 2022, Deputy Executive Assistant, Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Va., as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,400
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1A, C-5A/B, C-17A, C-5M
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant May 30, 2003
Captain May 30, 2005
Major May 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2016
Colonel July 1, 2022
(Current as of January 2025)