Colonel Joseph L. Gilpin is the Commander, 354th Maintenance Group, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. He is responsible for over 1,500 officers, enlisted, and civilian warfighters comprising 45 Air Force Specialty Codes and oversees maintenance of 54 F-35A aircraft, 21 F-16C Aggressor aircraft, and associated equipment, valued over $4.2 billion dollars.
Additionally, he is responsible for supporting deployments and contingency operations in multiple areas of operations across the globe. Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of Safety for Headquarters, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. As Director, he developed, executed, and evaluated all Air Force Materiel Command aviation, ground, weapons, space and system mishap prevention, and nuclear surety programs to preserve combat readiness. Additionally, he directed research to promote safety awareness and mishap prevention, oversaw mishap investigations, evaluated corrective actions, and ensured implementation. Finally, he managed, developed, and directed all Air Force Materiel Command safety and risk management courses.
Colonel Gilpin is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and was commissioned through Officer Training School in January 2000. He is a career Munitions and Missile maintenance officer and is a two-time graduated Squadron Commander who has served in various assignments ranging from Chief, Joint Munitions Branch HQs USINDOPACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii to 321st AEW Chief, Plans and Programs while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. He is originally from Louisville, KY, and is married to the former Donna Lynn Pickett and they have two daughters, Josie Lynn and Kayleigh Grace.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts Degree, General Studies, Louisiana Tech University, LA
2002 Master of Arts Degree, Human Resources Development, Webster University, MO
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2011 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence
2020 Air War College by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2000 – September 2002: OIC, Systems Flight, Chief, Quality Assurance, OIC, Aerospace Ground
Equipment Flight and OIC, Weapons Maintenance Flight, 2d Support Squadron, Fairchild AFB, WA
2. September 2002 – September 2005: Commandant of Cadets, Unit Admissions Officer and Assistant Professor
of Air and Space Studies, AFROTC, Detachment 550, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
3. September 2005 – April 2009: Deputy Commander/Maintenance Operations Office, 420th Munitions Squadron,
RAF Welford, United Kingdom
4. April 2009 – June 2012: Chief, Weapons Assessments/Investigations, HAF/SE Executive Officer, Air Force
Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, NM
5. June 2012 – June 2014: Maintenance Operations Officer, 1st Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis,
VA
6. June 2014 – June 2016: Commander, 51st Munitions Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
7. June 2016 – June 2018: Commander, 1st Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
8. July 2018 – July 2021: Chief, Joint Munitions Branch HQs USINDOPACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, HI
9. July 2021 – June 2023: Deputy Commander, 982d Training Group, 82d Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, TX
10. June 2023 – August 2023: Military Deputy, Lightning Sustainment Center, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program
Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
11. August 2023 – August 2024: Military Deputy Director, Lightning Sustainment Center, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
12. October 2024 - July 2025: Director of Safety, HQ Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
13. July 2025 - Present: Commander, 354th Maintenance Group, Eielson AFB, AK.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2018 – July 2021: Chief, Joint Munitions Branch HQs USINDOPACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, HI
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon with 1 Service Star National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service Star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 Service Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant January 2000
First Lieutenant January 2002
Captain January 2004
Major September 2009
Lieutenant Colonel March 2015
Colonel February 2023