Col. Robert S. Noren is Commander, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown, Pa. In this position, Col. Noren commands more than 1,900 Airmen across six groups in three geographic locations in executing The wing’s primary mission to fly and maintain the MC-130J Commando II aircraft, which flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multiship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or airland and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories.
Col. Noren commissioned in 1993 through the Air Force ROTC program at The Pennsylvania State University. Throughout his career, the Colonel has served at a variety of leadership assignments, including four command positions, as well as a Deputy Director of a National Guard Bureau directorate. Col. Noren is a master navigator, having flown more than 50 combat missions and deployed several times in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, OEF-Horn of Africa and PLAN COLOMBIA. Col. Noren also served as a Special Operations Forces Air Liaison Officer with the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Afghanistan. Prior to his current position, Noren was Deputy Director, Plans and Programs for the Air National Guard, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Col. Noren has planned and participated in numerous theater-level exercises as well as Army Division and Brigade field exercises and Joint Readiness Training Center-sponsored events. Col. Noren has also served as on-scene commander, and as an Emergency Operations Center commander during four domestic operations emergencies.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000 Master of Arts, Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
2009 Intermediate Development Course, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1993 – November 1994, Civil Engineering Officer, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. November 1994 – November 1995, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. November 1995 – June 1998, MC-130E Instructor Navigator, 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. June 1998 – May 2000, Air Force Intern Program, Washington D.C.
5. May 2000 – September 2004, MC-130H Instructor/Evaluator, 15th SOS, 16th Operations Group, AFSOC/A3V, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. January 2009 – May 2019, Director of Operations and Commander, 165th Air Support Operations Squadron, Garden City, Ga.
7. May 2019 – January 2020, Chief of Staff, 165th Airlift Wing, Garden City, Ga.
8. January 2020 – November 2021, Commander, 165th Mission Support Group, Garden City, Ga. (January 2021 – June 2021, Commander, 385th Air Expeditionary Group, Al Udeid, Qatar)
9. November 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 165th Airlift Wing, Garden City, Ga.
10. June 2023 – November 2024, Deputy Director, Plans and Programs, Air National Guard, JB Andrews, Md.
11. November 2024 – Present, Commander, 193rd SOW, Middletown, Pa.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: master navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,400
Aircraft flown: MC-130E, MC-130H and C-130H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 9, 1993
First Lieutenant May 17, 1997
Captain May 17, 1997
Major July 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 22, 2012
Colonel Jan. 11, 2020
(Current as of November 2024)