Col Joel L. Carey is the Vice Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan, Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. He oversees three air expeditionary advisory groups consisting of more than 800 joint and combined personnel from the United States and 15-partner nations directly engaged in advising, training and assisting the Afghan Air Force. He ensures the optimal integration of Afghan air power in support of Afghan National Security Forces and NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Colonel Carey advises the Chief of Staff of the Afghan Air Force in his role to organize, train, equip and employ the 8,018 person Afghan Air Force
Colonel Carey earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Baylor University in 1992. He has served in numerous positions at the squadron, group, numbered air force and major command levels. He has deployed in support of operations Deliberate Force, Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and U.S. Air Forces Central Command's Theater Security Package.
Colonel Carey is a command pilot with more than 2,800 hours, in the F-111, EF-111, F-15, C-208 and MC-12W aircraft including 490 combat hours
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
1998 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Master of Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1993 - July 1994, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. July 1994 - May 1998, student, F-111 Formal Training Unit and student, EF-111 Transition course; later, flight lead and Assistant Chief of Plans, 429th Electronic Combat Squadron, 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
3. May 1998 - December 1998, student, F-15C Formal Training Unit, 1st Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. December 1998 - December 2001, F-15C mission commander; Chief of Safety, 12th Fighter Squadron; later, Flight Commander, 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
5. January 2002 - July 2005, F-15C instructor pilot and flight examiner; Assistant Director of Operations, 1st Fighter Squadron; Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 325th Operations Group, 325 Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
6. July 2005 - June 2006, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. July 2006 - June 2009, Chief of Policy, 3rd Air Force; later Chief, Commander's Action Group and Executive Officer to Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
8. July 2009 - June 2012, F-15C instructor pilot and flight examiner; Chief, Plans and Programs, 18th Wing; Director of Operations, then Commander, 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
9. July 2012 - July 2013, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. July 2013 - December 2013, Vice Commander, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
11. February 2014 - Present, Vice Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,800, including 490 in combat
Aircraft flown: F-15C/D, F-111, EF-111, MC-12W, C-208, T-37 and T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Non-Article 5 NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 16, 1992
First Lieutenant Nov. 8, 1994
Captain Nov. 8, 1996
Major May 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2008
Colonel Oct. 1, 2013
(Current as of February 2014)