Colonel Neil M. Theisen is the Deputy Commander, 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, New York. The 106th Rescue Wing consists of four groups with over 1,100 military and civilian personnel. The Wing operates HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters along with a Guardian Angel Squadron comprised of Combat Rescue Officers, Pararescuemen, and SERE Specialists. Together, the Wing supports Air Force Personnel Recovery operations, performs civil search and rescue missions, and assists state emergency response and disaster relief efforts as directed by the governor of New York.
Colonel Theisen joined the 106th Rescue Wing in May 1999 and received his commission from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee, in March 2000. He completed navigator training in January 2001 and is a Master Navigator with over 1,900 flight hours. In 2011, Colonel Theisen became a full-time member of the New York Air National Guard after spending several years as a civilian secondary school teacher and drill status guardsman. He deployed six times in support of Operations NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM-HORN OF AFRICA, and INHERENT RESOLVE. He also supported humanitarian relief efforts during major storms such as Hurricanes Sandy and Florence.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts, History, Fordham University, New York, N.Y.
1996 Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Social Studies, Fordham University, New York, N.Y.
2006 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Doctor of Education, Administrator Leadership for Teacher Learning, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minn.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Joint Combined Warfighter School - Hybrid, Joint Staff College, Norfolk, Va., distance learning/resident
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2000-March 2000, Student, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2. April 2000-January 2001, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
3. February 2001-June 2001, Student, C-130 Navigator Initial/Mission Qualification, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
4. August 2001-December 2001, Student, HC-130 Navigator Mission Qualification, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
5. March 2002-December 2002, Navigator, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
6. December 2002-May 2003, Student, Electronic Warfare Officer Upgrade Course, Randolph AFB, Texas
7. May 2003- July 2004, Navigator, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
8. August 2004-July 2009, Deputy Officer-in-Charge, Command Post,106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
9. August 2009-July 2013, Navigator, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
10. August 2013-July 2014, Inspector General Inspection Planner, 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
11. August 2014-July 2015, Director of Operations, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
12. August 2015-October 2016, Director of Operations, 106th Operations Support Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
13. October 2016-January 2017, Commander, 106th Operations Support Squadron, F.S, Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
14. February 2017-July 2017, Commander, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
15. August 2017-January 2018, Chief of Standardization & Evaluation,106th Operations Group, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
16. February 2018-March 2018, Commander, 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
17. April 2018-March 2019, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 106th Operations Group, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
18. April 2019-January 2020, Deputy Group Commander, 106th Maintenance Group, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
19. January 2020-April 2020, Student, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
20. April 2020-June 2020, Deputy Commander, 106th Maintenance Group, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
21. June 2020-February 2026, Commander, 106th Maintenance Group, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
22. February 2026-Present, Deputy Commander, 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: More than 1,900
Aircraft flown: HC-130J, HC-130N, HC-130P, MC-130P, C-130E, T-1, T-4
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Colonel Mike Gilroy Award-Top Electronic Warfare Officer Graduate, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2010 NORAD/USNORTHCOM JFHQ/JTF Staff Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo., distance learning
2014 USAF Inspector General Training Course, Lansdowne, Va.
2016 Air Reserve Component Chief of Safety Course, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
2016 Air National Guard Squadron Commander’s Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2019 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Air National Guard Joint Air Component Coordination Element Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2021 Commander’s Professional Development School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Air National Guard Commander’s Leadership Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2022 Safety Investigation Board President’s Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M., distance learning
2022 Commander's Legal Orientation Course, JB Andrews, Md.
PUBLICATIONS
"Comment and Discussion," United States Naval Institute Proceedings, January 2024
"Comment and Discussion," United States Naval Institute Proceedings, April 2024
"Make Jayhawks from Pave Hawks," United States Naval Institute Proceedings, August 2024
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
United States Naval Institute
National Guard Association of the United States
Military Association of New York
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, March 3, 2000
First Lieutenant, March 3, 2002
Captain, March 6, 2004
Major, August 2, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel, 02 August 2016
Colonel, 24 June 2021
(Current as of February 2026)