Colonel Rebecca L. Bissette is the Commander of the 225th Support Squadron, Western Air Defense Sector, Washington Air National Guard, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. She is responsible for maintenance of the systems providing constant air sovereignty command, control, and communications from Minnesota, west along the Canadian border, down the Pacific Coast, and along the Mexican border from California to Mississippi. These systems include 195 joint-use sensors, tethered aerostats, communications infrastructure, a classified network control center, and multiple command and control mission systems throughout the Battle Control Center. Colonel Bissette is also responsible for facility and power plant maintenance, operations, and security.
Colonel Bissette graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Distinguished Graduate and Blue-Chip Award recipient. In 2003, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant through ROTC and completed studies at the Naval Postgraduate School in 2004 in meteorology. She was lead meteorologist at the 11th Operational Weather Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, prior to leaving active duty to join the Florida Air National Guard as squadron weather officer in 2006. She joined the Washington Air National Guard and cross trained to air battle management in 2009. Colonel Bissette has mobilized in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Inherent Resolve. She has also supported Air Mobility Command through operational and staff support, most notably as a lead exercise planner in AMC’s first flag level exercise Mobility Guardian 2017. Colonel Bissette is a Senior Air Battle Manager, and her military career includes assignments in multiple operations centers and North American Air Defense Command Air Defense Sectors.
Prior to assuming her current position, she served as a Special Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Illinois.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2004 Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
2004 Weather Officer Basic Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2005 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2010 Air Battle Manager Basic Course, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2014 Masters of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Capella University, Minneapolis, Minn.
2015 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2021 Air War College, by correspondence
2021 Doctor of Philosophy, Counselor Education & Supervision, Capella University, Minneapolis, Minn.
ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2003–July 2004, METOC Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
- July 2004–October 2004, Student, Weather Officer Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Miss.
- November 2004–April 2005, Theater Weather Officer, 11th Operational Weather Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
- May 2005–October 2005, Meteorologist, 11th Operational Weather Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
- September 2005–September 2006, Lead Meteorologist, 11th Operational Weather Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
- October 2006–April 2007, Squadron Weather Officer, 601st Air Operations Center, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- May 2007–June 2009, Diplomatic Clearance Specialist, 618th Air Operations Center (TACC), Scott AFB, Ill.
- July 2009–April 2010, Air Battle Management student, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- May 2010–August 2010, Air Battle Manager, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
- September 2010–August 2014, Air Weapons Officer, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
- September 2010–June 2012, International Airspace Clearance Specialist, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
- July 2012–May 2013, Directorate Junior Executive Officer, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
- June 2013–March 2014, Directorate Senior Executive Officer, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
- September 2014–Feb 2016, Senior Director, 225th Air Defense Squadron, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
- March 2016–May 2017, Assistant Flight Commander/Senior Director, 225th Air Defense Squadron, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
- April 2017–May 2018, Exercise Planner, AMC/A3Y, Scott AFB, Ill.
- June 2017–May 2021, Joint Exercise Planner/Senior Director, 225th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
- June 2018–August 2018, CU&LP Team Leader, Washington State Partnership Program, Thailand
- November 2018–May 2019, Joint Exercise Planner, AMC/A3Y, Scott AFB, Ill.
- May 2019–October 2019, Senior Duty Officer, Jordan Air Defense Liaison, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
- May 2020–Jan 2021, Joint Mobility Officer, US Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
- Feb 2021–May 2022, Chief, USAFRICOM/USEUCOM/USSOCOM Branch at U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
- May 2022–December 2022, Strategic Planner/Senior Director, 225th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
- June 2022–July 2022, Student, Army War College DDE Residency I Course, Carlisle, Pa.
- July 2022–December 2022, Special Action Officer, Commander’s Action Group, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
- January 2023–present, Commander, 225th Support Squadron, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Air Battle Manager
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Distinguished Graduate and Blue-Chip Award, Reserve Officer Training Corps
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain Oct. 1, 2007
Major June 26, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 24, 2018
Colonel July 27, 2023
(Current as of August 2023)