Col Brett Cassidy is the Commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 27 SOW plans, postures, and executes precision strike, specialized mobility, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and air-to-ground integration. Col Cassidy leads four group equivalents, an A-staff, and 25 squadrons equipped with specialized aircraft including the AC-130, CV-22, MC-130, and MQ-9. He is responsible for providing combat-ready, world-wide deployable unconventional airpower to combatant commanders to execute special operations. As installation commander, he also oversees Cannon AFB’s support for U-28 aircraft, 1.3K facilities, almost 7K personnel, and seven tenant units.
Col Cassidy was raised in Tucson, Arizona, and earned his commission in 2004 from the University of Arizona’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He is a career special operations and air mobility pilot, with over 2,300 flight hours in CV-22 and C-130 aircraft. Col Cassidy has flown combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, supported worldwide contingency operations, and commanded at the squadron and group levels. Prior to his current assignment, Col Cassidy was the Commander, 11th Air Task Force, where he led team efforts to evolve the Air Force’s force generation model and improve future air expeditionary wing constructs.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Art, History, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Masters of Professional Studies, Political Management, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2016 Master of Operational Art and Science, Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2017 Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2004 – September 2005, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 314th Operational Support Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
- September 2005 – February 2007, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Training Squadron 31, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
- February 2007 – November 2010, C-130E/H Copilot, Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, and Operations Group Executive Officer, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan
- November 2010 – January 2011, Student, CV-22 Mission Qualification Pilot Training, 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- January 2011 – July 2015, CV-22 Pilot, Aircraft Commander, Flight Commander, and Assistant Operations Officer, 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
- July 2015 – June 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2016 – June 2017, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2017 – November 2019, Strategic Planner and Liaison to U.S. Central Command, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
- November 2019 – July 2021, Commander, 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- July 2021 – June 2022, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Ft. Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
- June 2022 – June 2024, Requirements Management Branch Chief and Chief of Staff, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- June 2024 – June 2026, Commander, 11th Air Task Force, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
- June 2026 – Present, Commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2017 – November 2019, Strategic Planner and Liaison to U.S. Central Command, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel
- June 2022 – June 2024, Requirements Management Branch Chief and Chief of Staff, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment (J-8), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,300 including more than 200 combat hours
Aircraft flown: CV-22, MV-22, C-130E/H, T-6A, and T-44A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2013 Mackay Trophy Recipient
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 7, 2004
First Lieutenant June 7, 2006
Captain June 7, 2008
Major Nov. 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2017
Colonel April 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2026)