Col. Sergio Rios is the 78th Air Base Wing deputy commander at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The wing's 2,700 personnel are directly responsible for all logistics, medical, civil engineering, security and mission support functions. As the deputy commander supporting Georgia's largest single-site industrial complex, Col. Rios provides facilities and equipment support for the base's 54 Mission Partners, including a major command, an air logistics complex and three wings on the 6,935-acre installation. He is responsible for the management of facilities and equipment valued at $8.1 billion and the execution of a $170.8 million operating budget. Additionally, Col. Rios trains, deploys, and redeploys more than 1,800 Airmen in support of Air and Space Expeditionary Forces and combatant commander requirements. He is also responsible for safety, security, morale and welfare of 22,000 Total Force Airmen assigned to Robins Air Force Base and 28,000 local dependents and retirees.
Col. Rios entered the Air Force in June 2000 as a graduate of the University of Iowa and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Since joining, he has held multiple positions at the installation, Numbered Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and combatant command level to include: Aide-de-Camp and trip planner to the United States Southern Command commander, Air Officer Commanding at the United States Air Force Academy, commander’s action group director, Force Support Squadron commander, and the Air Forces Central Command A-1 Forward at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. During his years of service, Col. Rios has been selected and earned master’s degrees from the Air Force Civilian Institute program at the University of Central Florida and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City
2002 Air & Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Master of Science, Lodging & Hospitality Management (Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian Institute Fellow), University of Central Florida, Orlando
2008 Air Force Contingency War Planners course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Arts, Leadership and counseling, University of Colorado, and U.S. Air Force Academy master’s Air Officer Commanding Program, Colorado Springs
2017 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – March 2002, Chief, Plans & Force Management, 45th Services Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
2. April 2002 – July 2002, Chief, Readiness Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
3. August 2002 – March 2003, Air Force Base Honor Guard Program Manager and Service Representative, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
4. April 2003 – July 2004, Southwest Asia Circuit Manager, Armed Forces Entertainment, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
5. August 2004 – July 2005, Chief, Financial Performance and Analysis, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
6. August 2005 – July 2007, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Civilian Institute Program, University of Central Florida, Orlando
7. August 2007 – January 2008, Chief Contingency Plans & Operations Branch, Headquarters Third Air Force, Personnel and Services Directorate, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
8. February 2008 – June 2008, Chief, Services Plans and Readiness, Headquarters Third Air Force, Personnel and Services Directorate, Ramstein AB, Germany.
9. July 2008 – June 2010, Commander, Combat Support Flight, 86th Services Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany.
10. June 2010 – June 2012, Aide-de-Camp and Trip Planner to the Combatant Commander, United States Southern Command, Miami, Fla.
11. July 2012 – May 2013, Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Communication, United States Southern Command, Miami, Fla.
12. June 2013 – May 2014, Intermediate Development Program Student, U.S. Air Force Academy Air Officer Commanding Master’s Program, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
13. June 2014 – May 2015, Commander, Cadet Squadron 15, USAFA, Colorado Springs
14. May 2015 – June 2016, Director, Commander’s Action Group, Headquarters United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
15. July 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 6th Force Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. July 2018 – June 2019, Director, Air Forces Central Command Forward, Combined Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
17. July 2019 – July 2020, Chief, 38F Career Field Management Team, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
18. July 2020 – June 2022, Chief, Career Field Management & Readiness Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
19. June 2022 – Present, Deputy Commander, 78th Air Base Wing, Robins AFB, Ga.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Navy Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2019 U.S. Central Command General Michael P.C. Carns Award recipient
2018 General Curtis E. LeMay, Best Large Force Support Squadron
2002 Air Force Space Command Company Grade Officer of the Year
(Current as of June 2022)