Col. Szczepanik is the Deputy Commander, 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, assisting the Wing Commander in leading more than 3,000 people and controlling an annual budget exceeding $249 million. The wing’s overall mission is to provide worldwide air refueling support in addition to the support of Headquarters U.S. Central Command, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, and 31 other mission partners that call MacDill home. A native of Columbus, OH, Col Szczepanik graduated from Miami University (OH) and earned his pilot wings in 2004 at Columbus AFB, MS. Col Szczepanik has evaluated on the C-17A Globemaster III and participated in numerous operations including UNIFIED RESPONSE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and NEW DAWN.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Arts, Miami University, Oxford, OH
2011 Master of Arts, American Military University, VA
2021 Master of Science, National War College, Fort McNair, DC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2003 – May 2005, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS
2. May 2005 – October 2009, 8th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, WA.
3. October 2009 – April 2014, 15th Airlift Squadron and 437th Operations Group; JB Charleston, SC
4. April 2014 – July 2017, Headquarters Air Force and Office of the CJCS; Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
5. July 2017 – June 2020, 436th Airlift Wing and 3d Airlift Squadron; Dover AFB, DE
6. June 2020 – June 2021, Student, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington, D.C.
7. June 2021 – June 2023, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. June 2023 – Present, Deputy Wing Commander, 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 3,200
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-1A, C-17A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major May 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2016
Colonel April 1, 2022
(Current as of 28 July 2023)