Colonel Angela M. Tapia is dual hatted as the Commander, Headquarters Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC) Detachment 41 and Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander of Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Colo.
Col. Tapia is the principal advisor for all Air National Guard matters and provides executive-level advice and functional expertise to the ARPC Commander, executive directors, and senior managers within the Reserve Personnel Center, Headquarters Air Force and National Guard Bureau. She is responsible for developing, maintaining and enhancing relationships with the Air Staff, Headquarters Air Force, Major Command Staff, and Service Center Headquarters. Col. Tapia serves as the primary point of contact for execution of the Memorandum of Agreement between ANGRC and ARPC and provides administrative control for all ANG members assigned to ARPC. She also provides advice and assistance to directors and special staff officers on Air National Guard personnel matters.
Col. Tapia is a graduate of the Academy of Military Science at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn. She also served in the New Mexico Air National Guard as an enlisted Airman for more than 11 years before earning a commission in 2005. She was instrumental in establishing the New Mexico National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Costa Rica as well as standing up the first Total Force Personnel Intelligence Formal Training Unit (PR-IFTU) at the 150th Special Operations Wing. As a Maintenance Officer, Col. Tapia deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Balad Air Base, Iraq. She has legislative experience serving on the Office of Secretary of Defense, NGB and Secretary of the Air Force staffs.
EDUCATION
2002 Associate of Applied Science, Education and Training Management, Community College of the Air Force
2003 Bachelor of Science, Occupational Education with specialization in Business Management, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Texas
2004 Associate of Applied Science, Human Resource Management Community College of the Air Force
2005 Commissioning, Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Master of Military Arts and Science, Operational Warfare, Air University
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Wilson Center Foreign Policy Fellowship
2017 Master’s Certificate in Legislative Studies, Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2022 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesly J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2023 Strategic Mindset Seminar, Stimson & Associates, Inc., Arlington, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2005- April 2008, Officer in Charge, Equipment Maintenance Flight, 150th Maintenance Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2. August 2005 - April 2008, International Affairs Specialist, Joint Force Headquarters, New Mexico National Guard, Santa Fe, N.M.
3. April 2008 – May 2011, Flight Commander, Maintenance Operations Flight, 150th Maintenance Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
4. May 2011 – May 2013, Flight Commander, 250th Intelligence Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
5. May 2014 – July 2015, Wing Executive Staff Officer, 150th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
6. May 2013 - November 2015, Chief, Personnel Recovery Intelligence Formal Training Unit, 150th Operations Support Squadron, 150th Operations Group, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
7. December 2015 – December 2016, Legislative Liaison, Office of Legislative Liaison, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. January 2017 – December 2017, Air Force Legislative Fellow, Washington, D.C.
9. January 2018 – December 2019, Special Assistant, Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. December 2019 – July 2021, Aide-de-Camp to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. August 2021 – June 2022, Student, National War College, Fort Lesly J. McNair, Washington D.C.
12. July 2022 – Present, Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center Detachment 41, Dual hatted Air National Guard Advisor to Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Space Force Base, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three devices
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two devices
Army Commendation Medal with one device
Air Force Achievement Medal with one device
Army Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with one device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one device
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with five devices
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Medal with Gold Border
Air Force Longevity Service with seven devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two devices
Basic Military Training Honor Graduate
Air Force Training Ribbon with one device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, April 2005
First Lieutenant, April 2007
Captain, April 2009
Major, January 2014
Lieutenant Colonel, January 2018
Colonel, November 2022
(Current as of June 2023)