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.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Management, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
2000 U.S. Army Initial Entry Rotor Wing Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2000 U.S. Army UH-60 Qualification Course, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.
2001 U.S. Army Aviation Captains Career Course, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2005 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2006 C-130 Mission Qualification, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
2008 C-130 Aircraft Commander Pilot Checkout Course, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 C-130H Pilot Instructor Qualification, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Master of Arts, Management and Leadership, Webster University, Webster Groves, Mo.
2017 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, USAF Safety Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2017 Air National Guard Commander Development Course, ANG Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2018 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Expeditionary Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2019 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Phase 1, U.S. Department of Defense, Fort Carson, Colo.
2020 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Phase 2, U.S. Department of Defense, Fort Carson, Colo.
2021 Joint Task Force Commanders Course, USNORTHCOM, Fort Carson, Colo.
2021 Dual Status Commanders Course, USNORTHCOM, Fort Carson, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1993 – January 1997, Utility Equipment Repairer, Detachment 1, E Company, 1-106th Aviation Battalion, Decatur, Ill.
2. January 1997 – August 1998, U.S. Army Officer Candidate, Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Ill.
3. August 1998 – March 1999, Executive Officer to the Commander, 1-106th Aviation Battalion, Peoria, Ill.
4. March 1999 – January 2003, Platoon Leader/UH-60 Black Hawk Pilot, A Company, 1-106th Aviation Battalion, Decatur, Ill.
5. January 2003 – October 2003, Executive Officer to the Commander, 1-106th Aviation Battalion, Peoria, Ill.
6. October 2003 – March 2015, C-130H Mobility Pilot, 169th Airlift Squadron, Peoria, Ill.
7. March 2015 – February 2017, Air Ops Staff Officer (Strategic/Tactical), Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
8. February 2017 – August 2018, ANG Advisor to A3 Operations, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
9. August 2018 – June 2022, Commander, 182nd Operations Group, Peoria, Ill.
10. June 2022 – Present, Commander, 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,000
Aircraft flown: TH-67, OH-58, UH-60, T-37, C-12 and C-130H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with "13" device
Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of Illinois (lifetime member)
National Guard Association of the United States (lifetime member)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 23, 1998
First Lieutenant Aug. 23, 2000
Captain Dec. 10, 2002
Major Dec. 21, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 5, 2011
Colonel March 27, 2017
(Current as of January 2026)