Lieutenant Colonel ChiaFei Vivien Wu is the Commander of the 306th Operations Support Squadron, 306th Flying Training Group, 12th Flying Training Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. She commands 58 active, reserve, civilian, and contractor personnel at the Air Force’s busiest VFR-only towered airfield. Supporting four squadrons and nine distinct airframes at the USAF Academy Airfield and Bullseye Auxilliary Airfield, she is directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of air traffic control, airfield management, weather support, airspace management, as well as aerial support of USAF Academy events. Her responsibilities also include operations support to the USAF Academy Airmanship and Introduction to Flight Training programs. Lieutenant Colonel Wu is a T-53 instructor pilot for the USAF Academy’s Powered Flight Program.
Lieutenant Colonel Wu earned her commission and a Bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1998. She was a First Assignment Instructor Pilot in the T-1A at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, followed by two assignments in Air Force Special Operations Command flying the MC-130H Combat Talon II at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, and Hurlburt Field, Florida. After flying in Special Operations Command Lieutenant Colonel Wu returned to Air Education and Training Command as a T-1A Pilot Instructor Training Instructor Pilot at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Following this assignment she served on the staff of the USAF Academy Center for Character and Leadership Development. Prior to assuming command she was the Director of Operations for the 306th Operations Support Squadron.
Lieutenant Colonel Wu is a command pilot with over 2,500 total flight hours including over 1,200 instructor hours.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Basic Sciences, USAF Academy CO
2004 Squadron Officer School (in residence)
2008 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2008 Master in Military Operational Arts and Sciences, Air University (correspondence)
2015 Air War College (correspondence)
2016 Master in Social Sciences, Syracuse University NY
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 98 - Sept 99: Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, OK
2. Sept 99 - Jan 03: T-1A First Assignment Instructor Pilot, Check Pilot, Squadron Executive Officer,
32 FTS, Vance AFB, OK
3. Jan 03 - Feb 04: Pilot upgrade, C-130E/MC-130H Training, Various CONUS bases
4. Feb 04 - Aug 06: MC-130H Pilot, Chief of Training, Chief of Scheduling, Group Executive Officer, 7 SOS and 352 SOG, RAF Mildenhall, UK
5. Aug 06 - Aug 08: Group Current Operations Officer, Chief of Mobility, 1 SOSS and 15 SOS, Hurlburt Field, FL
6. Aug 08 - Jun 12: T-1A Pilot Instructor Training Instructor Pilot, Chief T-1A Standardization and Evaluation, Wing Executive Officer, 99 FTS and 12 FTW, Randolph AFB, TX
7. Jun 12 – Jun 13: Program Director, National Character and Leadership Symposium, Center for Character and Leadership Development; T-53 Instructor Pilot, 557 FTS, USAFA, CO
8. Jun 13 – Aug 14: Assistant Director for Honor, Center for Character and Leadership Development;, USAFA, CO
9. Aug 14 – Jun 16: Director of Operations, 306th Operations Support Squadron; T-53 Instructor Pilot, 557 FTS, USAFA, CO
10. Jun 16 – Present: Commander, 306th Operations Support Squadron; T-53 Instructor Pilot, 557 FTS, USAFA, CO
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2,500
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-1A, C-130E, MC-130H, and T-53
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant May 27, 2000
Captain May 27, 2002
Major December 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2013