Colonel Lawrence R. Sullivan is the Deputy Commander for Operations of the 153d Airlift Wing of the Wyoming Air National Guard in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He is responsible for organizing, training and equipping over 1200 Airmen across multiple groups, squadrons and flights for worldwide deployment as well as defense of the homeland – including employment of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System. The 153d Airlift Wing is equipped with approximately eight C-130H aircraft that are regularly deployed in support of state and federal missions. Colonel Sullivan excels at providing effective support to the Wing Commander through disciplined and experienced leadership as well as a commitment to process improvement.
Colonel Sullivan received his Baccalaureate Degree from Siena College and earned an active-duty commission through the US Army’s Reserve Officer Training Corps in June 1991 where he served in the Aviation Branch. In December 1998 he transferred from the Army to the US Air Force with the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Airport, New York. While a member of the 106th Rescue Wing, he received his Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College.
Colonel Sullivan has served in tactical and operational roles as a Squadron Commander and Group Commander. His operational assignments within the Army included various positions of increasing responsibility within Forces Command as well as Training and Doctrine Command, culminating as the U.S Army Aviation Center’s Aviation Training Brigade’s Assistant Operations Officer. Colonel Sullivan’s staff experience includes multiple assignments at the Wing, Department of the Air Force and COCOM levels. He was the Director of the Personnel Recovery Coordination Cell for the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. In that capacity, he was the lead Personnel Recovery planner for 17 Horn of Africa Nations covering more than 5000 members and $250 million in assets. Additionally, he was the inaugural Director of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Flight Academy in support of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Aircrew Crisis Task Force, an initiative born of a joint military-industry working group within the industry collaboration line of effort.
Prior to his assignment to the 153d Airlift Wing, Colonel Sullivan served as the Air National Guard Advisor to Air Force Special Operations Command at HQ AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, FL. He has deployed in support of Operation Northern Watch (twice), Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom (twice) and Operation Freedom Sentinel (twice). He is a Command Pilot with over 2500 hours in multiple rotary wing aircraft.
EDUCATION
1991 Siena College, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Latham, N.Y.
1993 UH-60 Aviator Qualification Course, Fort Novosel, Ala.
1996 UH-60 Instructor Pilot Method of Instruction Course, Fort Novosel, Ala.
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2000 HH-60G Copilot Mission Qualification Course, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2004 High Altitude Power Management Course, Army High Altitude Aviation Training Site, Eagle, Colo.
2013 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2013 Chief of Safety Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1988 – August 1988, Student, Basic Training, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
2. September 1988 – May 1991, Enlistee and SMP Cadet, 464th Engineer Battalion, Schenectady, N.Y.
3. October 1991 – May 1993, Aviation Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Fort Novosel, Ala.
4. May 1993 – June 1993, UH-60 Aviator Qualification Course, Fort Novosel, Ala.
5. June 1993 – September 1995, Headquarters’ Company Executive Officer, Support Platoon Leader, Property Book
Officer/Assistant Battalion Logistician and Battalion Logistician, 2/229th Attack Helicopter Regiment, Fort Novosel, Ala.
6. September 1995 – July 1998, Airfield Operations Officer and Assistant Brigade Operations Officer, Aviation Training Brigade,
Fort Novosel, Ala.
7. November 1998 – March 2013, Helicopter Pilot, Helicopter Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander and Director of Operations,
101st Rescue Squadron, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
8. March 2013 – August 2018, Chief of Safety, 106th Rescue Wing, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
9. August 2018 – July 2019, Squadron Commander, 101st Rescue Squadron, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
10. July 2019 – January 2020, Group Commander, 106th Operations Group, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
11. January 2020 – May 2020, Squadron Commander, 101st Rescue Squadron, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
12. May 2020 – July 2021, Chief of Wing Plans, Integration and Execution, 106th Rescue Wing, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
13. July 2021 – September 2022, Chief of Safety, 106th Rescue Wing, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
14. October 2022 – November 2024, Air National Guard Advisor to Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt AFB, Fla.
15. November 2024 – July 2025, Commander, 153d Operations Group, Cheyenne, Wy
16. August 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander for Operations, 153d Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wy
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2016 – June 2016, Director, Personnel Recovery Coordination Cell, CJTF HOA, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, as a
lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: over 2500
Aircraft flown: UH-1H, UH-60A/L, HH-60G
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with one service star
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass device and three “M” devices
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1989 Air Assault School, Fort Novosel, AL
2015 Air National Guard Flight Safety Officer of the Year
2017 Air National Guard Safety Office of the Year
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member
American Veterans, Life Member
American Legion, Annual Member
New York City Police Benevolent Association, Life Member
Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators