Colonel JOHN M. COSGROVE

Colonel John M. Cosgrove is the 108th Wing Commander, New Jersey Air National Guard, Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, NJ. The federal mission of the 108th is to provide rapid global airpower to support both Air Mobility Command and Air Force Special Operations Command. In addition, the Wing deploys expeditionary forces in support of worldwide combat, contingency and humanitarian efforts. The state mission is to support the Governor of New Jersey in disaster or domestic emergency response situations. The Wing operates 9 KC-135R and 2 C-32B aircraft. The KC-135R performs air refueling, airlift and aero-medical evacuation missions supporting U.S. and coalition contingency operations and the U.S. Strategic Command’s Nuclear Deterrence mission. The C-32B provides dedicated rapid response airlift to the Department of Defense in support of United States Government crisis response events abroad and domestically.  The 108th Wing, with more than 1,200 members, is an Air National Guard unit and a reserve component of the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command.

Colonel Cosgrove received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992 where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics.  He attended undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi in July of 1992.  Upon UPT graduation, Colonel Cosgrove flew the C-9 at Scott AFB, Illinois until 1997.  He transitioned to the C-141 at McGuire AFB where he served in a variety of flying duties to include safety officer, scheduler, chief of tactics, and special operations low-level (SOLL2) pilot.