Lt Col Andrew Gillis is the Deputy Commander of 913th Airlift Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. The 913th Airlift Group is comprised of the 327th Airlift Squadron, the 913th Force Support Squadron, the 913th Operational Support Squadron, the 96th Aerial Port Squadron, the 913th Maintenance Squadron, and the 913th Aerospace Medical Squadron. The Group maintains and flies C-130J cargo aircraft that supports airlift, airdrop, aeromedical, and humanitarian missions around the world.
Lt Col Gillis entered the Air Force in June of 2004 via the USAF Academy. He has 20 years of service in the Active Duty and Reserves. In his various assignments, Lt Col Gillis has deployed seven times in support of various operations, including support for USCENTCOM and USAFRICOM. He has served in multiple roles throughout his career, including deployed command experience. He has served as a Major Weapon System evaluator, instructor, as an acting Director of Operations, and as Contract Oversight Representative to the Air Force. Prior to his current position, Lt Col Gillis was the Commander of the 913th Operations Support Squadron, and as a Joint Air and Space Planner at USNORTHCOM, Peterson Space Force Base, CO. Lt Col Gillis is a command pilot who has been recognized three times at the Air Force level for his airmanship. He has led combat missions across the world, including missions in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He is a graduate of the Dual Status Commander’s Course and the Joint Task Force Commander’s Course. In his civilian job, he is a major airline Captain.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, CO
2010 Squadron Officer School (In Residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Master of Arts, Military Science, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2021 Air War College (Correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2024 Joint Task Force Commander Course, USNORTHCOM Peterson Space Force
Base, CO
2024 Dual Status Commander Course, USNORTHCOM, Peterson Space Force
Base, CO
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2004 - March 2005, Student, T-37, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base,
Mississippi
2. April 2005 - December 2005, Student, T-44, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Corpus Christi Naval Air
Station, TX
3. January 2006 - June 2006, Student, C-130 E/H Qualification Course (Distinguished Graduate)
4. July 2006 - June 2008, Pilot (Ali Al Salem AB June - September 2007), Pope Air Force Base, North
Carolina
5. July 2008 - May 2011, Instructor Pilot and Group Fight Safety Officer (Ali Al Salem Air Base, June -
September 2010; Ali Al Salem AB February - June 2009, Ali Al Salem AB, June August 2008) 40th
AS, 317 Airlift Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
6. June 2011 - December 2012, Instructor and Contract Oversight Representative, 714th Training
Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR.
7. January 2013 - June 2013, Student, C-130J Qualification Course (Distinguished Graduate)
8. June 2013 – July 2016, Evaluator Pilot, 41st Airlift Squadron (Commander, 75 EAS, Djibouti,
June 2015 - October 2015, Acting Director of Operations, 41st AS February 2015 - June
2015), Little Rock AFB, AR
9. August 2016 – October 2020, Assistant Chief Pilot and Evaluator Pilot (Al Udeid Air Base
February - May 2019), 327th AirliftSquadron, Little Rock AFB, AR
10. November 2020 – November 2022, Commander, 913th Operations Support Squadron,
Little Rock Air Force Base, AR
11. December 2022 – April 2025, Joint Air and Space Planner, USNORTHCOM, Peterson
Space Force Base, Colorado
12. April 2025 - Present, Deputy Commander, 913th Airlift Group, Little Rock Air Force Base,
Arkansas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 2022 – April 2025, Joint Air and Space Planner, USNORTHCOM, Peterson Space Force
Base, as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 9000
Aircraft flown: C-130 E/H/J: B-737-700/800/-8
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Distinguished Graduate, C-130H Qualification Course, Squadron Officer School
2007 William H. Tunner Award
2008 William H. Tunner Award
2013 Distinguished Graduate, C-130J Qualification Course
2019 James H. Doolittle Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 2004
First Lieutenant June 2, 2006
Captain June 2, 2008
Major June 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel September 28, 2020
(Current as of April 2025)