Col. Cary Mittelmark serves as the Commander of the 27th Special Operations Group providing combat ready forces to joint force commanders around the world. The over 1,500 Airmen of the 27th Special Operations Group perform a variety of specialized airpower missions including precision strike, ISR, battlefield mobility, helicopter aerial refueling, and other specialized combat support missions. The 27th Special Operations Group directs the training and readiness for eleven squadrons operating various special operations aircraft including the CV-22 Osprey, AC-130W Stinger II, AC-130J Ghost Rider II, MC-130J Commando II, MQ-9 Reaper, and U-28 Draco.
A native of Minnesota, Col. Mittelmark attended the University of Portland, Oregon where he received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2001. He has served as Deputy Commander, 492nd Special Operations Group and Commander, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field Florida. Prior to his current position, he was Military Faculty at the National War College, Fort McNair, Washington DC where he was responsible for mentoring and educating future leaders of the Armed Forces, Department of State, and other civilian agencies for high-level policy, command, and staff responsibilities.
Col Mittelmark is a senior pilot with over 2500 flying hours. He has deployed extensively and Commanded at the Expeditionary Group and Squadron levels. He has operational experience in the Middle East, Africa, Central, South and Southeast Asia, and Europe.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science – Electrical Engineering, University of Portland, Portland, Ore.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Business Administration, California Coast University, Santa Ana, Calif.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of International Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Washington DC
2020 Master of Strategic Studies, National Defense University (CISA), Fort McNair, Washington DC
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 2001 - November 2002, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
- December 2002 - June 2003, Student, Electronic Warfare School, Randolph AFB, Texas
- July 2003 - April 2004, EA-6B Navigator, EA-6B Formal Training Unit, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
- April 2004 - November 2006, EA-6B Instructor Navigator, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Electronic Attack Squadron 142, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
- November 2006 - April 2008, Student, Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
- April 2008 - December 2010, PC-12 Instructor Pilot, chief of weapons and tactics, 318th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- December 2010 – June 2013, Assistant Director of Operations and PC-12 Evaluator Pilot, 551st Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- June 2013 – May 2014, Air Force Fellow, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Washington DC
- July 2014 – June 2017, Counterterrorism Strategist and Executive Assistant to the Director, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell, J5, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC
- June 2017 – December 2018, Commander, 524th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.
- December 2018 – Jun 2019, Deputy Commander, 492nd Operations Group, Duke Field, Fla.
- June 2019 – June 2020, International Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare Fellow, College of International Security Affairs, Fort McNair, Washington DC
- June 2020 – June 2022, Branch Chief, Forces Division, J8, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC
- June 2022 – Jun 2023, Military Faculty, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington DC
- June 2023 – Present – Commander, 27th Special Operations Group
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGMENTS
- July 2014 – June 2017, Counterterrorism Strategist and Executive Assistant to the Director, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell, J5, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC, as a Major
- June 2020 – June 2022, Branch Chief, Forces Division, J8, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC, as a Lieutenant Colonel
- June 2022 – June 2023, Military Faculty, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington DC, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 2,500 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-1, T-39, T-43, EA-6B, T-34, T-38, Q-200, C-145, PC-13, C-146A and U-28A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Naval Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 AFSOC Commander’s Leadership Award, Air Commando Association, Hurlburt Field Fla.
2015 Joint Staff/J-5 Officer of the Year, Pentagon, Washington DC
2023 Honorary Master’s Degree in National Military Strategy, National War College, Ft McNair, Washington DC
PUBLICATIONS
“Playing Chess with the Dragon: Chinese-U.S. Competition in the Era of Irregular Warfare,” Small Wars and Insurgencies, Oct 2020