Colonel John D. Beatty
Colonel John D. Beatty is the commander of the 943rd Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
As the Group Commander, he leads and directs the training, organization, and resourcing of the group's subordinate units for their combat and peacetime personnel recovery missions. These units include: a flying squadron of six HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters; two Guardian Angel "Pararescue" squadrons; a maintenance squadron; an aerospace medicine squadron; a mission support flight; and an operations support flight.
Immediately prior to his assignment as 943rd RQG Commander, Colonel Beatty was the Commander, 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. As the Squadron Commander, he led and directed the flying and training operations for a combat-ready, worldwide-deployable search and rescue squadron. Additionally, he was responsible for training and professionally developing assigned HH-60G helicopter pilots, special mission aviators, and support personnel. Other previous assignments include Deputy Commander, 943rd Rescue Group; an individual mobilization augmentee tour as Search and Rescue Controller, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; and Flight Commander/HH-60G pilot, 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Prior to his duty with the Air Force Reserve, Colonel Beatty served as an active duty Army Aviation commissioned officer in a variety of leadership and flying positions, culminating as Commander, Charlie Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Ft. Belvoir, VA. He has deployed numerous times in support of overseas contingency operations including UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, and ENDURING FREEDOM. Most recently, he served as deployed director of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Personnel Recovery Coordination Cell and Commander, 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
In his civilian career, Colonel Beatty is a rotary-wing standardization flight evaluator with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Tucson Aviation Branch.
EDUCATION
Current: Graduate Student, National Security Studies, American Military University
1987 Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement, Jacksonville State University
1987 U.S. Army Aviation Officer Basic Course
1992 U.S. Army Military Intelligence Advanced Course
1996 U.S. Army Combined Arms Services and Staff School (SOS - Equivalent)
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Oct 87 - Jan 89; Student, U.S. Army Aviation Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary- Wing Qualification Courses, Ft. Rucker, AL
2. Jan 89 - Jan 92; Aeroscout Platoon Leader, 1-4 Attack Helicopter Battalion, Ft. Carson, CO
3. Jan 92 - Aug 92; Student, U.S. Army Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, Ft. Huachuca, AZ
4. Aug 92 - Aug 93; Student U.S. Army Fixed-Wing Qualification Course and OV-1 Mohawk Aircraft Qualification Course, Ft. Rucker, AL
5. Sep 93 - Sep 94; Platoon Leader, 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea
6. Sep 94 - Oct 95; Executive Officer, A-Company, 224th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), Hunter AAF, Savannah, GA
7. Oct 95 - Oct 96; Assistant Battalion Operations Officer, 224th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), Hunter AAF, Savannah, GA
8. Oct 96 - Apr 97; Battalion Logistics Officer, 12th Aviation Battalion, Ft. Belvoir, VA
9. Apr 97 - Apr 98; Commander, C-Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Ft. Belvoir, VA
10. Jan 00 - Oct 07; Flight Commander, 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
11. Oct 07 - Oct 10; SAR Coordinator, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Tyndall AFB, FL
12. Oct 10 - Jun 14; Deputy Commander, 943rd Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
13. Jun 14 - Jan 16: Commander, 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
14. Feb 16 - present: Commander, 943rd Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: Over 5,000
Aircraft Flown: TH-55, OH-58, UH-1, OV-1D, RV-1D, UH-60, HH-60, AS-350, MD500, C550
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal w/ 2 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal w/ 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal