Colonel Thad Amundson is the Deputy Commander of the 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The 514th Air Mobility Wing is an associate Reserve wing comprised of subordinate units that support airlift and aeromedical evacuation missions using the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. In this capacity Col Amundson assists the commander to ensure the training and equipping of more than 2,200 personnel, including Air Reserve Technicians and Traditional Reservists.
Prior to this assignment, he was the Deputy Director, Special Air Missions AF/A3M (CVAM), Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As Deputy Director, Col Amundson assisted in the supervision of the Special Air Mission (SAM) activity for safe and timely worldwide airlift of the President, Vice President, Cabinet, Congress, Senior Dept of Defense officials, Combatant Commanders and other high-ranking officials and dignitaries of the US and foreign governments.
Prior to that assignment, he served as the Commander, 732d Airlift Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ; where he commanded 90+ airmen of a C-17 Associate Reserve squadron. As commander, he oversaw a $2M budget and ensured his unit had fully qualified mission-ready crews available for Mobility Air Forces world-wide taskings and operations which included combat airlift, humanitarian relief, DV airlift and mobility readiness exercises. Additionally, he was responsible for all squadron administrative actions, performance reporting, recognition, and career development.
Col Amundson received his commission in 2000 from the US Air Force Officer Training School and served on active duty as an acquisitions officer prior to joining the Air Force Reserve in 2004. He has flown combat sorties in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN and INHERENT RESOLVE. He is a Command Pilot with over 4,000 flying hours, 180 combat sorties with 800 hours flown in combat. In his civilian capacity, the colonel is a pilot with a major airline.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
2000 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2016 Masters of Science, Project Management, University of Management and Technology, Virginia
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2000 – August 2003, Developmental Engineer and Test Manager, Brooks AFB, TX
2. August 2003 – September 2004, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, TX
3. August 2005 – December 2005, C-17 Pilot Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, OK
4. December 2005 – June 2007, C-17 Mobility Pilot and Tactics Officer, 732d AS, McGuire AFB, NJ
5. June 2007 – June 2008, Reserve Chief of Tactics, 732d AS, McGuire AFB, NJ
6. June 2008 – June 2009, Training Officer, 732d AS, McGuire AFB, NJ
7. June 2009 – June 2014, Reserve Chief of Training, 732d AS, McGuire AFB, NJ
8. June 2014 – June 2018, Assistant Chief Pilot, 732d AS, McGuire AFB, NJ
9. June 2018 – September 2020, Chief Pilot, 732d AS, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
10. September 2020 – September 2022, Commander, 732 AS, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
11. September 2022 – July 2025, Deputy Director, AF/A3M Special Air Missions Directorate, HQ USAF, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 514 AMW, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, F-15C and C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant January 15, 2000
First Lieutenant January 15, 2002
Captain January 15, 2004
Major March 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel April 9, 2016
Colonel July 1, 2022 (Current as of July 2025)