Col Cynthia Welch is Deputy Commander, Fourth Air Force, March Air Reserve Base California. In this capacity she directly supports the Numbered Air Force commander with policy execution and strategic oversight of eighteen flying wings and one regional support group providing strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical, air refueling and associated expeditionary support activities. The Fourth Air Force responsibilities encompass 30 units and more than 34,000 personnel.
The colonel entered the Air Force in April 1998 through the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. She completed Undergraduate Pilot Training in June 1999 and is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours in numerous aircraft. Prior to her current position, the colonel served as the commander of the 931st Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence
2014 Master of Military Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 1998 - June 1999, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
- August 1999 - October 1999, Student, C-5 Formal Training Unit, 356th Airlift Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
- October 1999 - January 2001, C-5 Strategic Airlift Pilot, 312th Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
- January 2001 - October 2002, Assistant Operations Officer, 312th Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
- October 2002 - July 2007, Assistant Chief Pilot, C-5 Aircraft Commander, 709th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
- August 2007 - November 2007, Student, Distinguished Graduate C-17 Training, Altus AFB, Okla.
- December 2007 - March 2009, Assistant Operations Officer and C-17 pilot, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
- April 2009 - June 2010, Assistant Chief of Training, C-17 Aircraft Commander, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
- July 2010 - July 2011, Assistant Chief of training, C-17 Instructor Aircraft Commander, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
- May 2012 - May 2013, Chief of Training and C-17 Instructor Pilot, 326th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
- May 2013 - September 2015, Chief Readiness Operations, Headquarters Fourth Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
- September 2015 – October 2020, Operations Officer, 301st Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif. (August 2017 – January 2018, Tactics/Intel Officer, 721st Air Mobility Squadron, Rota Air Base, Spain)
- October 2020 – June 2023, Commander, 446th Operations Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
- June 2023 – April 2025, Commander, 931st Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.
- April 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, Fourth Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 5,000 including more than 530 combat and 180 combat support hours
Aircraft flown: C-5A, C-5B, C-5C, C-17A, KC-46A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' device
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant April 24, 1998
First Lieutenant April 24, 2000
Captain Oct 1, 2002
Major Oct. 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel, Oct. 1, 2016
Colonel March 30, 2022
Colonel June 1, 2018
(Current as of April 2025)