Colonel Justin D. Secrest, is the Commander, 90th Security Forces Group, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. In this capacity, he leads six squadrons and a group staff responsible for Air Force Global Strike Command’s Readiness Training Center and defending a base which supports 7,100 personnel, a weapons storage area and 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and their related infrastructure spread throughout a 9,600 square-mile area across Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado.
Colonel Secrest enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1988 and served as a Security Forces Craftsman, Secure Communications Craftsman, and Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Instructor. In 2001, he received a commission through the Air Force Officer Training School and subsequently began his commissioned career as a Security Forces Officer. He went on to various assignments in Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, Air Force Space Command, United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Force Global Strike Command. He served in positions at multiple levels including flight commander, section commander, logistics officer, wing anti-terrorism officer, wing executive officer, operations officer, squadron commander, wing director of staff, and deputy group commander. Colonel Secrest also deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq and served as compound commander as well as officer in charge of detainee visitation. Notably, he served as 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron interim commander and oversaw the historic end of the Air Force Security Forces mission inside Iraq’s Theater Internment Facilities. Colonel Secrest attended the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy where he was assigned to a Nuclear Command Control and Communications systems study and completed a data visualizations concentration. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Secrest served as the Chief, Security Forces for Headquarters, AFGSC, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing and executing physical security policy, plans and programs for eight installations. He oversaw training and readiness for 5,800 Security Forces, protecting AFGSC assets to include U.S. Strategic Command’s nuclear deterrent forces, along with organizing and equipping global strike units to ensure exceptional readiness and lethality.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude General Studies, Regents College, Albany, N.Y.
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Master of Arts, with honors, Human Resource Development, Webster University, St Louis, Mo.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (“Top Third” graduate)
2010 Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, Session #240, Quantico, Va.
2010 Air Command and Staff College (by correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
2013 Master of Science, Military Studies, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Va.
2020 Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, Va.
2020 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2001 - August 2001, Student Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2. August 2001-February 2002, Flight Commander, 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
3. February 2002-February 2003, Section Commander, 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
4. February 2003-October 2003, Installation Anti-Terrorism Officer, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
5. October 2003-October 2004, Officer in Charge of Supply, Logistics & Training, 8th Security Forces Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
6. October 2004-October 2005, Flight Commander, 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
7. October 2005-March 2007, Operations Officer, 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
8. March 2007-August 2009, Operations Officer, 569th US Forces Police Squadron, Vogelweh, Germany
9. October 2007-May 2008, Compound Commander, 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq
10. August 2009-May 2010, Executive Officer, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
11. May 2010-July 2012, Commander, 23rd Security Forces Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
12. July 2012-June 2013, Student, Marine Command and Staff College, Quantico Marine Base, Va.
13. June 2013-July 2015, Commander, 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
14. July 2015-July 2016, Deputy Commander, 341st Security Forces Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
15. July 2016-June 2018, Commander, 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
16. June 2018-June 2019, Director of Staff, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
17. June 2019-June 2020, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security & Resource Strategy, Fort McNair, D.C.
18. June 2020-July 2022, Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, Operations Team 2, J3, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. July 2022 - June 2023, Chief, Security Forces, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
20. June 2023 - present, Commander, 90th Security Forces Group. F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2020 – July 2022, Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, Operations Team 2, Joint Staff J3, Pentagon, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 16 August 2001
First Lieutenant 16 August 2003
Captain 16 August 2005
Major 1 October 2011
Lieutenant Colonel 1 September 2016
Colonel 1 May 2022
(Current as of July 2023)