Colonel Joseph Geaney is the Wing Commander at the 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Commanding a wing comprised of over 1,000 Airmen, 4 groups and 11 squadrons, he leads the Air Force’s premier C-130H Formal Training Unit, graduating United States, allied and partner Airmen through the full spectrum of aircrew qualifications. In addition to operating a Cyber Protection Team and cyber training unit, he is responsible for providing ready Airmen capable of meeting global requirements for combatant commanders as well as domestic emergency response to Arkansas and the homeland. Col. Geaney works in concert with the 19th Airlift Wing (AMC), 314th Airlift Wing (AETC) and 913th Airlift Group (AFRC) on Little Rock Air Force Base.
Col. Geaney was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Area Studies with a French Minor from the United States Air Force Academy in 2000 and a Masters in National Security Studies from American Military University in 2010. He commissioned into the United States Air Force and graduated Undergraduate Pilot Training from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in March 2002. Col. Geaney transitioned to the Arkansas Air National Guard in 2013, where he served as a Drill-Status Guardsman C-130E/H Instructor Pilot. When he was selected for a full-time position, Col. Geaney served as C-130H evaluator/instructor pilot, Pilot Scheduler, Wing Executive Officer and Director of Staff, Wing Plans Officer, 154th Training Squadron Director of Operations, 189th Operations Support Squadron Commander, 154th Training Squadron Commander, and 189th Operations Group Commander. Col. Geaney is married to the former Ms. Amanda Ward; they have a son Joseph and daughter Taylor.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Foreign Area Studies (French Minor), United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2002 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base and NAS Corpus Christi, TX
2006 Squadron Officer School (in-residence), Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, AL
2010 Master of Arts, National Security Studies, American Military University, Manassas, VA
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2017 Air War College, by correspondence
2018 Leadership Greater Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
2020 Joint and Combined Warfighting School (Hybrid), Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2021 Leadership Arkansas, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (AIA), Little Rock, AR
2021 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, Andrews Air Force Base, MD
2024 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Fort Carson, CO
2024 Leadership in Homeland Security, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA
2024 Dual Status Commander Course, Peterson Space Force Base, CO
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2000 – February 2001, Foreign Area Officer and Downhill Ski Coach, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. February 2001 – March 2002, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, TX and VT-31, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Tex.
3. November 2002– March 2006, C-130 Pilot/Aircraft Commander/Instructor Pilot, 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
4. March 2006 – March 2010, C-130 Evaluator Pilot/Chief of Standardization and Evaluation/Flight Commander, 53d Airlift Squadron & 463d Airlift Group, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
5. March 2010 – January 2013, Command C-130E/H/AMP Evaluator Pilot/Executive Officer, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. January 2013 – March 2015, C-130 Evaluator Pilot/Instructor Pilot, 154th Training Squadron, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
7. March 2015 – February 2017, Wing Executive Officer/Director of Staff/Wing Plans Officer, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
8. February 2017 – August 2018, Director of Operations, 154th Training Squadron, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
9. August 2018 – April 2019, Commander, 189th Operations Support Squadron, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
10. April 2019 – October 2020, Commander, 154th Training Squadron, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
11. October 2020 – September 2023, Commander, 189th Operations Group, Arkansas ANG, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
12. September 2023 – March 2025, Director of Staff, Headquarters Arkansas Air National Guard, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, North Little Rock, Ark.
13. March 2025 – Present, Commander, 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,500, including 567 combat sorties
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-44A, C-130E/H1/H2/H3/AMP
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with twelve oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
AF Overseas Ribbon Long
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States, Lifetime member
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Lifetime member
Enlisted National Guard Association of Arkansas, Lifetime member
National Guard Association of Arkansas, Lifetime member
Order of Daedalians, Lifetime member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant May 31, 2002
Captain May 31, 2004
Major January 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel January 5, 2016
Colonel October 1, 2020
(Current as of Mar 2025)