Colonel Samuel M. Todd 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.
Colonel Todd commissioned from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2000. The majority of his operational experience is in the C-17, where he has 1,100 hours of instructor and evaluator time. Additionally, he has significant planning experience in global mobility operations across tactical, operational, and strategic levels. Prior to this assignment he served as the Vice Commander, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Colonel Todd also served as Commander of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, and held numerous Wing, Air Operations Center, MAJCOM, and Joint Staff level jobs. Colonel Todd is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, nearly 900 hours during combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2014 Master of Arts, Military Operations and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas
2018 Master of Arts, National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2001 – May 2002, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. October 2002 – October 2008, C-17 Aircraft Commander and Evaluator Pilot, 14th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
3. October 2008 – December 2011, C-17 Weapons Instructor Pilot, 57th Weapons Squadron, Joint Base McGuire, N.J.
4. January 2012 – June 2014, Student Command and General Staff College & School of Advanced Military Studies, Ft. Leavenworth,
Kan.
5. September 2014 – May 2015, Director of Operations, 14th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
6. June 2015 – June 2016, Commander, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
7. June 2016 – June 2017, Chief of Officer Development, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
8. July 2017 – June 2018, Student Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
9. June 2018 – May 2021, Chief, Distribution Division, Directorate of Logistics (J4) Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. June 2021 – June 2023, Vice Commander, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
11. June 2023 – Present, Commander, 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2018 – May 2021, Chief, Distribution Division, Directorate of Logistics (J4) Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as a
lieutenant colonel and colonel.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 4,000
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1A, C-12F, C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Alaska National Guard Legion of Merit
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACIEVEMENTS
2002 AETC Commander’s Trophy, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training
2002 Distinguished Graduate & Flying Excellence Award, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training
2006 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2011 Mobility Air Force Tactician of the Year
2015 Air Mobility Command Doolittle Award, Aircrew of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major May 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2015
Colonel Jan. 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2023)