Col. Tavis C. Powell is the commander of the 482d Operations Group at 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. He leads a group of 147 personnel in all aspects of training, readiness, air operations, and combat air power.
Col. Powell entered the Navy in 2000 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from the Naval Academy. He began his flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida and earned his “wings of gold” in 2002 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. Col. Powell began his flying career in the F-14B Tomcat at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. After a successful transition to the F/A-18F, Col. Powell attended the Navy Strike Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) earning his “patch” in 2007. After a tour as a Weapons School Instructor, Col. Powell returned to the fleet as a Weapons Officer and flew the Super Hornet through March 2011.
In 2011, Col. Powell was screened and assesses for a tour at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group on Dam Neck Annex, Virginia. He held a variety of positions there until separation from the Navy in late 2014.
In early 2015, Col. Powell jointed the Air Force Reserve flying the mighty F-16. He has served in numerous roles in the 482d Fighter Wing to include Director of Inspections, Wing Weapons Officer, 482d Operations Support Squadron Commander, 93d Fighter Squadron Commander, Chief of Wing Plans and Programs, and 482d Operations Group Commander.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science Degree, Marine Engineering, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
2004 Air-to-Ground Weapons Tactics Officer Course, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
2005 Tactical Air Control Party Course, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California
2005 Forward Air Controller (Airborne) Course, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
2006 Air-to-Air Weapons Tactics Officer Course, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
2007 Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Course (TOPGUN), Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada
2010 Rescue Mission Commander Course, Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada
2011 Collateral Damage Estimate Course, Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex, Virginia
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Air War College, by correspondence
2022 Masters of Arts Degree, International Service, American University, Washington, District of Columbia
2023 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, District of Columbia
ASSIGNMENTS
- May 2000 – March 2001, Engineering Department Support Staff, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
- January 2001 – June 2001, Aviation Pre-Indoctrination, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Pensacola, FL
- June 2001 – November 2001, T-34C Student, Primary Flight Training, NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX
- November 2001 – February 2003, T-45A Student, Advanced Flight Training, NAS Kingsville, TX
- February 2003 – January 2004, F-14B Student, Fighter Squadron 32, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA
- January 2004 – January 2007, F-14B / F/A-18F Instructor Pilot, Fighter Squadron 32, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA
- January 2007 – April 2007, F/A-18F Student, Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), NAS Fallon, Fallon, NV
- April 2007 – July 2009, F/A-18A-F Weapons School Instructor, Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA
- July 2009 – March 2011, F/A-18F Weapons Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron 32, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA
- March 2011 – September 2014, Fires Support Officer / Forward Air Controller, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck Annex, Virginia Beach, VA
- September 2014 – January 2015, Navy Reserves, Naval District Washington, Washington, DC
- January 2015 – November 2015, F-16C Pilot, 93d Fighter Squadron, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Homestead, FL
- November 2015 – November 2017, Director of Inspections, 482d Fighter Wing, Homestead ARB, Homestead, FL
- November 2017 – October 2018, Wing Weapons Officer, 482d Operations Support Squadron, Homestead ARB, Homestead, FL
- October 2018 – July 2019, Commander, 482d Operations Support Squadron, Homestead ARB, Homestead, FL
- July 2019 – September 2021, Commander, 93d Fighter Squadron, Homestead ARB, Homestead, FL (January 2021 – May 2021, Commander, 93d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram Air Field, Parwan, Afghanistan)
- September 2021 – December 2023, Chief of Wing Plans and Programs, Homestead ARB, Homestead, FL
- December 2023 – present, Commander, 482d Operations Group, Homestead ARB, Homestead, FL
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3400+
Aircraft flown: T-34C, T-45A, F-14B, F/A-18A-F, OV-10G, F-16C/D
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two “C” devices and five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Navy Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Action Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Ensign May 23, 2000
Lieutenant Junior Grade May 23, 2002
Lieutenant May 23, 2004
Lieutenant Commander May 1, 2010
Major January 28, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel February 9, 2017
Colonel July 7, 2023.
(Current as of September 2023)