Lieutenant Colonel Westley L. “WARRIOR” Broxterman is the Commander of the 190th Operations Support Squadron, 190th Air Refueling Wing, Kansas Air National Guard. He directs the full-spectrum readiness posture of 13 aircrew and 31 support personnel, ensuring Airmen deployment predictability and maintaining home station preparedness while simultaneously preserving readiness for the Air Force’s nuclear deterrence enterprise. He is directly responsible for maintaining squadron moral, performance standards, and flying safety awareness. He integrates the efforts of the individuals in the Operations Support Squadron to execute Global Reach-Global Power through the mission and vision of the 190th Air Refueling Wing Commander.
Born in Sabetha, Kansas, Lt Col Broxterman enlisted into the 184th Bomb Wing in 2001 serving as an Aerospace Maintenance Apprentice on the B-1B. He graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Airway Science-Professional Pilot in May 2005. He was selected by the 184th Air Refueling Wing for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training and commissioned through the Academy of Military Science in 2006. He earned his pilot wings in March 2008 after flying the T-37 Tweet & T-38 Talon at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. He joined the 190th Air Refueling Wing in April 2008 and served in the 117th Air Refueling Squadron. He completed KC-135 Copilot Initial Qualification Training at Altus AFB, Okla. In September 2008. He has been full-time Active Guard/Reserve since 2014. He has held a variety of positions in the 190th ARW including Current Operations Officer, Aircrew Training Officer in Charge, 190th Chief of Aircrew Training & Tactics, 190th Operations Support Squadron Director of Operations – Support, and 190th Chief of Current Operations. Prior to his current position he was the 117th Air Refueling Squadron Director of Operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Broxterman is an instructor/evaluator pilot having flown the KC-135R/T aircraft logging over 4000 hours as a military command pilot. He has flown over 170 combat/combat support sorties totaling over 1100 combat hours in direct support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Freedom Sentinel and Restore Hope.
EDUCATION
2001 USAF Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2002 Aerospace Maintenance Apprentice School, Sheppard AFB, TX
2002 E/K/R/WC-135 Entry Level/Crossover Maintenance Course, McConnell AFB, KS
2002 KC-135R/T Aircraft Maintenance Advanced Troubleshooting Course, McConnell AFB, KS
2005 Airman Leadership School, McConnell AFB, KS, in residence
2005 Bachelor of Airway Science-Professional Pilot, Kansas State University, Salina, KS
2006 Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson ANGB, TN
2007 USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS
2008 USAF KC-135 Pilot Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, OK
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2012 Global Ready Aircraft Commander Course, Scott AFB, IL
2014 KC-135 Instructor Aircraft Commander Course, Altus AFB, OK
2018 Advanced Instrument School, Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City, OK
2019 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2020 Maintenance Course for Operational Commanders, Sheppard AFB, TX
2021 Air National Guard Squadron Commanders Course, Gulfport CRTC, MS
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2001 – January 2007, Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman,184th Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, KS
2. January 2007 – March 2008, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, MS
3. April 2008 – September 2008, KC-135 Pilot Initial Qualification, AFB, OK
4. September 2008 – March 2015, KC-135 Pilot, 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field ANGB, Topeka, KS
5. March 2015 – December 2017, Chief of Scheduling, 190th Operations Support Squadron
(June 2015 – July 2015, Assistant Director of Operations, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
7. December 2017 – September 2018, Chief of Aircrew Training and Tactics, 190th Operations Support Squadron
8. September 2018 – June 2019, Director of Operations-Support, 190th Operations Support Squadron
9. July 2019 – April 2020, Chief of Current Operations, 190th Operations Support Squadron
10. April 2020 – September 2021, Director of Operations, 117th Air Refueling Squadron
11. September 2021 – Present, Commander, 190th Operations Support Squadron
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot, Instructor/Evaluator
Flight Hours: 4,000+ military total, (1,100+ combat hours)
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, KC-135 R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with six oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass device and seven “M” devices
Kansas National Guard Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 17, 2006
First Lieutenant November 17, 2008
Captain November 17, 2010
Major January 8, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel February 7, 2020
(CURRENT AS OF AUGUST 2023)