Lieutenant Colonel Jason I. Thompson is the Commander, 558th Flying Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The 558th FTS hosts the Air Force's only undergraduate remotely piloted aircraft training programs for pilots and sensor operators. Lieutenant Colonel Thompson was born in Tucson, Arizona. He entered the Air Force in May 2000 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Lieutenant Colonel Thompson completed pilot training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma in June 2000. He served as a Battalion Air Liaison Officer during his first assignment in the A/OA-10A, and is a combat veteran of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, he served as Director of Operations, 558th Flying Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Lieutenant Colonel Thompson is a senior pilot with more than 1,900 flight hours in the A-10, T-38B/C, and T-37 aircraft.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2000 Air and Space Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Squadron Officer’s School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master's degree in Aerospace Studies, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2015 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000 - April 2001, T-6A System Level Formative Evaluation participant, 559th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. June 2001 - June 2002, student, Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
3. October 2002 - April 2003, student, A-10 Initial Qualification Training Course, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
4. June 2003 - June 2004, Battalion Air Liaison Officer, A/OA-10A Pilot, Assistant Chief of Training, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan AB, South Korea
5. June 2004 - January 2007, A/OA-10A Multi-Ship Flight Lead, Flight Commander, 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
6. January 2007 - February 2009, A/OA-10A Instructor Pilot, Operations Group Executive Officer, 358th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
7. March 2009 - May 2012, T-38C IFF Instructor Pilot, Wing Executive Officer, then Assistant Director of Operations, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
8. June 2012 – June 2013, student, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
9. June 2013 – June 2014, Deputy Chief, Combat Air Forces Standardization Evaluation Branch, JBSA-Randolph, Texas
10. July 2014 – March 2016, Director of Operations, 558th Flying Training Squadron, JBSA-Randolph, Texas
11. April 2016 – present, Commander, 558th Flying Training Squadron, JBSA-Randolph, Texas
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 1,900
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-37, T-38B/C, F-16D, A/OA-10A
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major Feb. 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2015
(Current as of March 2016)