Col. Keolani W. Bailey

COLONEL KEOLANI “KO” BAILEY
Col Keolani W. Bailey serves as the Commander of the Alaska Air National Guard, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska . He is responsible for the recruiting, retention, training, and equipping of over 2,400 Alaskan citizen airmen in two flying wings. He provides strategic airlift, search and rescue, aerial refueling, air defense, and space warning and surveillance capabilities in support of state and federal missions worldwide. Col Bailey ensures the Alaska Air National Guard maintains a constant watch and commitment to Pacific Air Forces, Air Combat Command, United States Northern Command, United States Transportation Command, and the Alaska North American Aerospace Defense Command Region.

A prior enlisted U.S. Army Engineer with 32 years of military service, Col Bailey earned his commission in 1997 as the Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. While serving as a logistics officer in the 168th Air Refueling Wing at Eielson AFB, he volunteered for a post 9/11 mobilization in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. As an air battle manager, Col Bailey served in multiple operational assignments to include Mission Crew Commander. Additionally, he commanded an air defense flight, logistics squadron, mission support group, and served as the first Pacific Air Defense Sector Commander, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. As Commandant, Col Bailey led the historic 2023 transformation of the Department of the Air Forces’ Officer Training School. Prior to his current position, he served as the Director, Air National Guard Forces for the Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

In his civilian capacity, he served as a professional licensed civil engineer for an international consulting firm.

EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska
2001 Master of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Military Studies, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2021 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 China Regional Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2024 University of Southern California, SHIELD Executive Program in Global Space and Deterrence, Los Angeles, Calif.
2025 University of North Carolina, Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2025 National Guard Bureau Joint Senior Leader Seminar, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
2026 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Ft Carson, Colo.
2026 Dual Status Commander Training Course, Peterson SFB, Colo.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. January 1993 - August 1995, Engineer Technician, 813th Engineer Battalion, Fort (Ft). Richardson, Alaska
2. January 1995 - August 1997, Engineer Platoon Leader, 813th Engineer Battalion, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska
3. October 1997 - April 1999, Public Affairs Officer, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Eielson Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska
4. April 1999 - July 2002, Transportation Officer, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska
5. July 2002 - March 2003, Student, Air Battle Manager, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
6. March 2003 - March 2005, Air Weapons/Executive Officer, 176th Air Control Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
7. March 2005 - July 2007, Chief of Weapons (Senior Director Instructor), 176th Air Control Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
8. July 2007 - June 2008, Student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va.
9. June 2008 - June 2009, Assistant Flight Commander (Senior Director Evaluator), 176th Air Control Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
10. June 2009 - June 2011, Chief Command and Control Systems, Mission Crew Commander, 176th Air Control Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
11. June 2011 - November 2011, Flight Commander, Mission Crew Commander (Instructor/Evaluator), 176th Air Control Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
12. November 2011 - May 2013, Wing Chief of Staff, 176th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
13. May 2013 - June 2016, Commander, 176th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
14. June 2016 - July 2018, Deputy Director Air National Guard Forces, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
15. July 2018 - July 2020, Commander, 176th Mission Support Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
16. July 2020 - July 2021, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
17. July 2021 - April 2022, Vice Commandant, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
18. April 2022 - December 2023, Commandant, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
19. January 2024 – April 2025, Commander, Pacific Air Defense Sector, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii
20. April 2025 – March 2026, Director of Air National Guard Forces, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
21. March 2026 – Present, Assistant Adjutant General Air, Joint Force Headquarters, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska