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Personnel Customer Service

Please go to the website https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/locator and put in Peoria, IL to get an appointment at the 182nd Airlift Wing. If you have any questions, please give Ms. Sue Houle a call at 309-633-5181.

If you need help with applying for retirement pay, please give MSgt Vicktoria Bradshaw at 309-633-5227.

Contact Recruiting

182nd Airlift Wing Recruiting
2426 S. Falcon Blvd. (Bldg 620), Peoria, IL 61607
Contact: 800-241-1331
Email: 182.AW.Recruiters@us.af.mil

Contact Public Affairs

182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
2416 S. Falcon Blvd. (Bldg 628), Peoria, IL 61607
Contact: 309-633-5118
Email: 182aw.public.affairs@us.af.mil

Wing Leadership

Col. Rusty L. Ballard

Col. Rusty L. Ballard is the commander of the 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois. He is responsible for leading the wing’s traditional and full-time Illinois Air National Guardsmen in maintaining and operating C-130H3 Hercules aircraft, providing rapid-deployment air mobility forces, and ensuring all assigned units can fulfill their state and federal missions.

Col. Ballard began his military career in June 1993, enlisting in the Illinois Army National Guard as a utility equipment repairer. He graduated from the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School and commissioned in August 1998, later becoming a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot. He has served in the Illinois National Guard for more than 30 years, transitioning to the Air National Guard in 2003 to become a C-130H pilot with the 182nd Airlift Wing. His career includes key leadership roles, such as serving as an Air National Guard representative at Air Mobility Command and as the C-130 Weapon System Chair, representing all Air National Guard C-130 assets worldwide.

Col. Ballard is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours and has deployed multiple times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Joint Forge and Atlantic Resolve. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the commander of the 182nd Operations Group, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois.

Col. Robert W. Reed

Col. Robert W. Reed is the deputy wing commander of the 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois. He is responsible for advising and assisting the wing commander with maintaining the combat readiness of the wing’s C-130 Hercules aircraft and traditional and full-time Illinois Air National Guardsmen.

Col. Reed enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1991 and served eight years as a supply specialist upon completing initial skills training. He obtained a commission in the Air National Guard in 1999, serving as a Logistics Readiness officer. In 2004, he became the 182nd Aerial Port Flight commander, followed by commands in the 182nd Logistics Readiness Squadron in February 2016 and the 182nd Force Support Squadron in October 2016. In 2010, Col. Reed served as the requirements cell shift chief for the Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center during Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn while deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operation.

Col. Reed has served as a professional educator for 20 years in the civilian public school system, with half that time being an educational administrator. He was selected as the full-time human resource officer with the 182nd Force Support Squadron in September 2016. Prior to his current assignment, the lieutenant colonel was the commander of the 182nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois.

Chief Master Sgt. Donald W. Henry III

Chief Master Sgt. Donald W. Henry III is the command chief master sergeant of the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, Illinois. He serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the wing commander, providing advocacy for enlisted personnel, ensuring mission readiness, mentoring senior NCOs, managing morale and upholding professional standards within the Greater Peoria Air National Guard Base.

Chief Henry began his military career in 2004 with the U.S. Air Force, serving four years on active duty. He transferred to the Air National Guard in 2008 and was selected for a full-time dual status federal technician position in 2010. He was converted to a Title 5 federal employee in 2017. Chief Henry has served in many capacities throughout his career, including financial services analyst, financial systems technician, wing inspection team member, quality assurance manager, senior enlisted leader, group senior enlisted leader, Air National Guard comptroller course instructor, and senior enlisted advisor to the Comptroller Advisory Board.

Chief Henry has deployed multiple times in support of several missions, to include Operations Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Spartan Shield. In 2010, he mobilized as a Financial Management specialist to the 65th Airlift Wing at Lajes Field, Azores, and in 2023 as the group senior enlisted leader for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing headquarters staff, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. In his full-time capacity, he is the supervisory financial analyst for the 182nd Comptroller Flight as a Title 5 civilian employee. Prior to his current position, the chief master sergeant was the chief enlisted manager of the 182nd Comptroller Flight, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Illinois.

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