Col Colonel K. Jason Daniels

Col. K. Jason Daniels is the Vice Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing (24 SOW), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Hurlburt Field, Fla. As the only Special Tactics wing in the Air Force, the 24 SOW conducts special operations force core activities with expertise in airpower application to lead global access, precision strike, personnel recovery, and battlefield surgical operations. It is comprised of two Special Tactics Groups and a Special Tactics Training Squadron, totaling 1,700 Special Tactics operators, Combat Mission Support personnel, and Special Operations Surgical Teams.

Col. Daniels received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy and competitively selected as a Special Tactics Officer in 1998. Throughout his training and operational career, he acquired skills as a senior parachutist, military freefall parachutist, combat diver, air traffic controller, and joint terminal attack controller. 

Col. Daniels has led joint forces in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM-Philippines, ENDURING FREEDOM-Trans Sahara, INHERENT RESOLVE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ODYSSEY DAWN, NEW DAWN, UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, UNIFIED PROTECTOR, and ODYSSEY LIGHTNING. Prior to this assignment, Col. Daniels was the Commander, 607th Air Support Operations Group, Seventh Air Force, Osan Air Force Base, Republic of Korea.  

EDUCATION

1998  Bachelor of Science in Geography, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.

2004  Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2006  Master of Arts in Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

2006  Air Force Intern Program, Washington, D.C., by correspondence

2012  Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2018  Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I., by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 1994—May 1998, Student, United States Air Force Academy, Colo
2. May 1998—December 1998, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology Officer Globalization Program, United States Air Force Academy, Colo
3. January 1999—July 2000, Student, Special Tactics training pipeline, various locations
4. August 2000—July 2001, Deputy Flight Commander, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash
5. July 2001—July 2003, Flight Commander, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash
6. August 2003—July 2005, Director of Operations, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
7. July 2005—June 2007, Air Force Intern Program, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2007—June 2008, Special Projects Officer, Special Activities Division, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.
9. June 2008—May 2010, Director of Operations, 720th Operations Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla
10. June 2010—June 2012, Commander, 321st Special Tactics Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
11. June 2012—June 2014, Division Chief, Deputy Directorate for Special Operations and Counterterrorism, J-37, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2014—July 2016, Commander, 724th Operations Support Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
13. July 2016—July 2017, Deputy Commander, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AFB, N.C.
14. July 2017—June 2018, Student, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
15. July 2018—August 2019, Commander, 607th Air Support Operations Group, Osan AB, ROK
16. August 2019—present, Vice Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Bronze Star with Valor Device with one oak leaf cluster

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant                 May 1998

First Lieutenant                       May 2000

Captain                                   May 2002

Major                                       Oct. 2007

Lieutenant Colonel                  Dec. 2011

Colonel                                    Apr. 2018