Colonel Jay R. Bickley is the Vice Commander, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. 12th Air Force ensures the readiness of seven active duty wings and one direct reporting unit for contingency operations, and oversees 15 gained units from the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, totaling more than 600 aircraft with more than 39,230 Airmen. As the air and space component to U.S. Southern Command, Air Forces Southern conducts security cooperation and provides air, space and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Colonel Bickley received his commission upon graduating as a Distinguished Graduate from the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at California State University, Sacramento, in 1989 and completed pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, in December 1991. During his career, he has commanded a flying squadron and operations group. Additionally, he has held a variety of positions, including Instructor and Evaluator E-3 Pilot, Flight Commander, Chief, Headquarters United States Air Force Chief of Staff Presentations Division, Assistant Director of Operations, and headed the Combat Air Branch in NATO's Joint Air Power Competence Center. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Commander, 552d Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Arts degree in communications, California State University, Sacramento, Calif.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1999 Master of Science degree in aeronautical science technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Air War College by correspondence
2009 Master of Science degree in National Security Studies, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1990 - December 1991, student, Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. February 1992 - May 1995, E-3 Aircraft Commander, Tinker AFB, Okla.
3. August 1995 - October 1998, T-37 instructor and evaluator pilot, flight commander, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. January 1999 - May 2002, E-3 instructor and evaluator pilot, executive officer, 3rd Operations Group, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
5. August 2002 - June 2003, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. June 2003 - April 2004, Deputy Chief, Current Operations Division, Air and Space Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
7. April 2004 - April 2005, Chief, CSAF Presentations Division, Air and Space Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2005 - June 2006, Director of Operations, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
9. June 2006 - July 2008, Commander, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
10. July 2008 - June 2009, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2009 - June 2011, Branch Head Combat Air, NATO Joint Air Power Competence Center, Kalkar,
Germany
12. June 2011 - June 2012, Commander, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, Southwest Asia
13. July 2012 - June 2013, Director, Air Force Office of Lessons Learned, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2013 - May 2015, Commander, 552d Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla
15. June 2015 - Present, Vice Commander, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: over 4500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, TC-18, RQ/EQ-4, and E-3
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 26, 1990
First Lieutenant May 26, 1992
Captain May 26, 1994
Major May 1, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel Mar 1, 2006
Colonel October 1, 2009
(Current as of April 2016)