Col. Jeffery D. Cannet is the Commander of the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y. The 106th Rescue Wing consists of four groups with over 1,000 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 (CRO), pararescuemen, and Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (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. Col. Cannet also serves as the Vice Commander of the military Joint Task Force for the Long Island region, available to support civil authorities when activated upon order from the New York Joint Forces Headquarters.
Upon entering the Air Force in 1993, Col. Cannet served as an F-15C/D aircraft maintenance technician and later earned his enlisted aviator wings as a flight engineer on the C-141B. In 2000, he transitioned to the Air National Guard, serving as a combat search and rescue flight engineer on the HC-130P/N. In 2004, Col. Cannet was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Tenn. and in 2005, he graduated from the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training program at Laughlin AFB, Texas. Col. Cannet has deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Prior to assuming command, Col. Cannet was the Commander of the 106th Operations Group. Col. Cannet is a command pilot with more than 5000 flight hours in various Air Force aircraft as a pilot and flight engineer. He also has over 125 combat and combat support hours.
EDUCATION
1998 Airman Leadership School, McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
2002 Bachelor of Science degree, Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
2003 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2007 Anti-Terrorism Officer Course, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2011 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2015 USAF Advanced Instrument School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2017 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2020 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1993 – May 1993, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. May 1993 – September 1993, Student, Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Technical School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. October 1993 – October 1995, F-15C/D Assistant Dedicated Crew Chief, 12th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
4. October 1995 – September 1996, F-15C/D Dedicated Crew Chief, 71st Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
5. September 1996 – October 1996, Basic Flight Engineer School, Altus AFB, Okla.
6. November 1996 – June 1997, C-141 Flight Engineer Qualification Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
7. July 1997 – August 2000, C-141 Flight Engineer, 8th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
8. August 2000 – January 2001, C-130 Flight Engineer Initial Qualification Course, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
9. February 2001 – June 2001, HC-130 Flight Engineer Mission Qualification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
10. June 2001 – January 2004, HC-130 Flight Engineer, 102nd Rescue Squadron, Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, N.Y.
11. January 2004 – February 2004, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
12. February 2004 – August – 2004, Training Manager, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
13. September 2004 – September 2005, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas.
14. October 2005 – February 2006, C-130 Pilot Initial Qualification Course, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
15. March 2006 – December 2006, HC-130 Pilot Mission Qualification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
16. January 2007 – August 2007, Command Post Officer, 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
17. September 2007 – February 2009, Wing Anti-Terrorism Officer, 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
18. February 2009 – June 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
19. July 2012 – March 2014, HC-130 Weapons and Tactics Officer, 106th Operation Support Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
20. April 2014 – September 2015, Assistant Director of Operations, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
21. October 2015 – December 2016, Director of Operations, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
22. January 2019 – June 2020, Squadron Commander, 102d Rescue Squadron, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
23. July 2020 – October 2024, Group Commander, 106th Operations Group, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
24. November 2024 – Present, Commander, 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski ANGB, N.Y.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 5200 total (3100 Pilot, 1900 Flight Engineer)
Aircraft flown: C-141B, C-130E, MC-130P, HC-130P/N, HC-130J, T-6A, T-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Slovenian Medal for Merit
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School, McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
2001 Distinguished Graduate, C-130 Flight Engineer School, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
2001 Distinguished Graduate, HC-130 Flight Engineer Mission Qualification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2004 Distinguished Graduate, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2006 Distinguished Graduate, HC-130 Pilot Mission Qualification Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic April 12, 1993
Airman October 12, 1993
Airman First Class August 12, 1994
Senior Airman April. 12, 1996
Staff Sergeant July 1, 1999
Technical Sergeant July 19, 2001
Master Sergeant July 24, 2003
Second Lieutenant February 20, 2004
First Lieutenant February 20, 2006
Captain February 20, 2008
Major September 20, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel August 17, 2017
Colonel June 24, 2021
(Current as of November 2024)