Colonel Ashley E. Nowak is the Commander of the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), Washington Air National Guard, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. As the commander, she is responsible for peacetime air sovereignty, strategic air defense, and airborne counterdrug operations in the continental United States west of the Mississippi River. WADS detects, identifies, tracks and scrambles fighters to intercept unknown or threatening airborne objects as part of its mission to guard America's skies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over nearly 73% of the United States.
Colonel Nowak received her commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2005 and served on Active Duty for seven years before commissioning into the Alaska Air National Guard (ANG) in 2014. She has commanded at the squadron level twice, first as the Commander, 142d Maintenance Squadron in Portland, Oregon, and second, as Commander, 116th Air Control Squadron on Camp Rilea, Oregon. Additionally, Colonel Nowak was assigned as Course Director for International Political Economy and Instructor of International Relations at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.
Colonel Nowak has deployed in support of operations throughout the U.S. Central Command, serving as the J4 Logistics Readiness Officer on the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component staff at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and as the Director of Operations for the 380th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. Her civilian employment activities included Headmaster for a private elementary school in Utah and Adjunct Professor at Alaska Pacific University for Outdoor & Environmental Education.
Prior to assuming her current position, Colonel Nowak served as a Strategic Planner in the Chief’s Action Group, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Arts in Arabic & Russian Languages, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2006 Air Force Language and Area Studies Immersion, Linden and Denz, Moscow, Russia
2007 Master of Arts in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012 Mountaineering Training School, Coyhaique, Chile
2015 Master of Science in Outdoor & Environmental Education, Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage
2017 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Undergraduate Air Battle Management Training, Tyndall, AFB, Fla.
2021 Masters of National Security & Resource Strategy, National Defense University-Eisenhower School, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2005–June 2006, Chief, Mission Capable (MICAP) Fixed Wing Cell, Air Force Special Operations Command Regional Supply Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2. June 2006–January 2007, Officer-in-Charge, Stock Control, Air Force Special Operations Command Regional Supply Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
3. January 2007–January 2008, Assistant Flight Commander/Officer-in-Charge Vehicle Management & Analysis, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (May 2007–August 2007, J4 Staff Officer, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, Balad Air Base, Iraq)
4. January 2008–May 2009, Flight Commander, Fuels Management, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. May 2009–July 2010, Instructor, Department of Social Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
6. July 2010–December 2011, Flight Commander, Deployment & Distribution Flight, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
7. January 2012–August 2012, Flight Commander, Materiel Management, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla. (January 2012–April 2012, Director of Operations, 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates)
8. April 2014–August 2015, Wing Deployment Officer, 176th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
9. August 2015–September 2016, Chief of Staff, 176th Wing, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
10. September 2016–March 2017, Executive Assistant, Director, Strategy, Policy, Plans & International Affairs (J5), National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. March 2017–July 2017, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
12. July 2017–August 2018, Commander, 142d Maintenance Squadron, Portland Air Guard Base, Portland, Ore.
13. July 2017–August 2018, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Management Training, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
14. August 2019–July 2021, Commander, 116th Air Control Squadron, Camp Rilea, Ore.
15. July 2021–June 2022, Student, National Defense University-Eisenhower School of National Security and Resource Strategy, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
16. June 2022–November 2024, Strategic Planner, Chief’s Action Group, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. November 2024–Present, Commander, Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2022–November 2024, Strategic Planner, Chief’s Action Group, Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service with one oak leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
Air Force Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2005
First Lieutenant May 29, 2007
Captain May 29, 2009
Major Oct. 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel, Nov. 2, 2019
Colonel Nov. 5, 2024
(Current as of April 2025)