Col. Sean M. Carpenter is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Combat Command (ACC), Langley AFB, Va. where he assists the Director with oversight of the various A5/8/9 staff functions, coordinates high-level staff activities in support of ACC policy and missions, advises the Director on the integration of the reserve component into the ACC force structure and performs other duties and assumes responsibilities as directed by ACC/A5/8/9.
Colonel Carpenter received his commission in June 1996 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, in 1998, and was assigned as an F-16C pilot. He is a veteran of Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom. He has commanded at the wing, group and squadron level, graduated the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy as a Distinguished Graduate at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. and served as the Director, Commander’s Action Group, for the Chief of the Air Force Reserve. Colonel Carpenter is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including 325 combat hours. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the commander of the 926th Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
In his civilian capacity, he is a First Officer with Delta Air Lines.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
1997 Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. 2003 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 2007 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. 2011 Naval Strategy and War Course, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2013 Theater Decision Making Course, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2016 Distinguished Graduate, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
September 1996 – June 1997, Student, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
July 1997 – November 1998, Student Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
December 1998 – November 1999, F-16 Student Pilot, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.
December 1999 – November 2002, Chief of Wing Scheduling, 78th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
December 2002 – November 2003, Chief of Standards & Evaluations, 80th FS, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
December 2003 – November 2006, Fighter Associate Program Flight Commander, 93rd FS, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
December 2006 – May 2009, Chief of Scheduling, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
June 2009 – April 2011, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 482nd Operations Group, Homestead ARB, Fla.
May 2010 – February 2013, Chief of Wing Combat Readiness/Inspections, 482nd FW, Homestead ARB, Fla.
March 2013 – September 2013, Assistant Director of Operations, 93rd FS, Homestead ARB, Fla.
September 13 – July 2015, Commander, 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
August 2015 – June 2016, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
July 2016 – July 2017, Director, Commander’s Action Group, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
August 2017 – March 2018, Individual Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Safety, AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
March 2018 – July 2019, Commander, 419th OG, Hill AFB, Utah
August 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 926th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
July 2021 – Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,000 including 325 combat hours Aircraft Flown: DC-9, T-38, F-16, F-35
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 26, 1996
First Lieutenant July 26, 1998
Captain July 26, 2000
Major July 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 23, 2011
Colonel July 1, 2016
(Current as of July 2022)