Colonel EDWARD J. “RAT” FINK, JR.

Col. Edward J. Fink, Jr. is the Commander of the 193d Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pennsylvania. He is responsible for the training and readiness of over 2,000 combat-ready Airmen, four uniquely modified EC-130J aircraft which provide Military Information Support Operations and Electronic Attack, and three C-130J aircraft ensuring Special Operations Forces mobility in support of United States Special Operations Command and Air Force Special Operations Command. He also leads the wing aircraft re-missioning from the EC-130J to the MC-130J, a flagship mission for Air Force Special Operations Command, which will guarantee relevancy for the wing in years to come.

Col. Fink enlisted in the Air Force in August 1985 and served as an enlisted Nuclear Weapons Specialist in the 410th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. He separated from active service in 1988, joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and attended Penn State University. While earning his degree, he served as an Aircraft Munitions Maintenance Team Chief at the 111th Fighter Wing, Willow Grove NAS, Pennsylvania. In 1992, he was selected for a pilot position, commissioned in November 1993, and earned his pilot wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas in January 1995. After attending training at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, he returned to Willow Grove NAS as an A/OA-10 pilot where he eventually upgraded to Evaluator Pilot and served in numerous contingency deployments.

Col. Fink commanded the 111th Maintenance Group before transferring to the 193d Special Operation Wing, Middletown, Pennsylvania as an EC-130J Aircraft Commander. In December 2012, he assumed command of the 193d Special Operations Wing, Detachment 1, Bollen Air-to-Ground Range. Col. Fink assumed command of the 193d Special Operations Group in April 2016. Prior to his current position, Col. Fink served as the Commander of the 111th Operations Group, Biddle ANGB, Pennsylvania. As a command pilot, Col. Fink has over 3900 hours of military flight time in the T-37, T-38, A/OA-10, C-130J, EC-130J and MQ-9, and is a veteran of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM with 506 hours of combat flight time.

EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science in Geography, Penn State University, State College, Pa.
1993 Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tenn.
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Air National Guard Contemporary Base Issues Course, Jacksonville, Fla.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Commander Development Course, Joint Base Andrews AFB, Md.
2018 Master of Science in Leadership, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa.


ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1985 – August 1988, Nuclear Weapons Specialist, 410th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Mich.
2. August 1988 – September 1993, Aircraft Munitions Maintenance Technician, 111th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Pa.
3. September 1993 – January 1994, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. January 1994 – May 2000, A/OA-10 Pilot, 111th Fighter Wing, Willow Grove NAS, Pa.
5. May 2000 – January 2010, A/OA-10 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 111th FW, Willow Grove NAS, Pa.
6. January 2010 – March 2011, Group Commander, 111th Maintenance Group, Willow Grove NAS, Pa.
7. March 2011 – December 2012, Pilot/Chief, Current Operations, 193d Special Operations Squadron, Middletown, Pa.
8. December 2012 – April 2016, Commander, 193d Special Operations Wing Detachment 1, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.
9. April 2016 – December 2017, Commander/Air Operations Officer, 193d Special Operations Group, Middletown, Pa.
10. December 2017 – June 2019, Deputy Director, Air Operations, National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews AFB, Md.
11. June 2019 – December 2019, Commander/Air Operations Officer, 193d SOG, Middletown, Pa.
12. December 2019 – October 2022, Commander/Air Operations Officer, 111th Operations Group, Biddle Air National Guard Base, Pa.
13. October 2022 – Present, Wing Commander, 193d Special Operations Wing, Harrisburg International Airport, Pa.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,900
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, A/OA-10, C-130J, EC-130J, MQ-9

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Gallant Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with six oak leaf clusters

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Pennsylvania Governors Unit Citation
Pennsylvania 20 Year Service Medal
Pennsylvania Major General Thomas R. White, Jr. Medal
Pennsylvania General Thomas J. Stewart Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, Nov. 18, 1993
First Lieutenant, Feb. 25, 1996
Captain, March 18, 1998
Major, March 20, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel, March 29, 2006
Colonel, Dec. 7, 2016

(CURRENT AS OF OCTOBER 2022)