Col Shane P. Muscato is the Commander of the 479th Flying Training Group at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The Group includes four squadrons, over 700 personnel and 45 T-6A Texan II and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft and trains over 200 Combat Systems Officers each year for the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard. Additionally, the Group supports over 1,500 Air Force personnel in the Pensacola, Fla. area.
Col Muscato was commissioned via the United States Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. in August 2002. Upon graduation he attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Col Muscato then served multiple operational assignments in the MC-130H aircraft, including instructing at the Air Force Weapons School. Col Muscato has commanded at the squadron level, expeditionary squadron level, and as the Combined Joint Special Operations Air ComponentAfghanistan Deputy Commander. Following squadron command, Col Muscato attended National War College and completed tours on the Joint-Staff and Headquarters Air Force. Prior to his current position, he was the Division Chief for the Special Operations Forces and Personnel Recovery Capability Development Team as a member of Air Force Futures, Headquarters United States Air Force at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
Colonel Muscato is a master navigator with over 3,100 hours. He has deployed in support of numerous operations including ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and INHERENT RESOLVE.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Bridgewater State College, Mass.
2004 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2008 SOF Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Arts in Education, Touro University International, Calif.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School, Calif.
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Master of National Strategy, National War College, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2002 – March 2004: Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 2004 – April 2005: Student, C-130 Training Little Rock, AR and MC-130H Initial Qualification Training, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. May 2005 – June 2008: Training Officer, Tactics Officer, Instructor Navigator, 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
4. July 2008 – December 2008: Student, 14th Weapons Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla and Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. January 2009 – June 2009: Chief of Tactics, Instructor Navigator, 1st Special Operations Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
6. July 2009 – June 2011: Chief of Tactics, Flight Commander, Evaluator Navigator 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. July 2011 – June 2014: Stan/Eval Officer, Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Stan/Eval, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. July 2014 – December 2015: Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.
9. January 2016 – January 2018: Operations Officer, 14th Weapons Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. February 2018 – May 2019: Commander, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
11. June 2019 – June 2020: Director, Commander’s Action Group, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. July 2020 – June 2021: Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
13. July 2021 – May 2022: Strategic Planner, Joint Force Development Team, Joint Force Integration, Joint Staff J-7, Arlington, Va.
14. May 2022 – July 2023: Deputy Executive Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, Arlington, Va.
15. July 2023 – January 2024: Division Chief, Special Operations and Personnel Recovery Capability Development, Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Va.
16. January 2024 - Present: Commander, 479th Flying Training Group, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2021 – May 2022, Strategic Planner, Joint Staff J-7, Arlington, Va, as a Lieutenant Colonel
2. May 2022 – July 2023, Deputy Executive Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, Arlington, Va, as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: 3,125 / Combat hours: 735
Aircraft flown: T-43, C-130E, AC-130W, U-28A, MC-130H, T-6A and T-1A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 Distinguished Graduate, MC-130H Initial Qualification Training
2008 Academic Award, United States Air Force Weapons School
2010 Hurlburt Field/1st Special Operations Wing, Company Grade Officer of the Year
2010 Superior Achievement Award, Institute of Navigation
2012 1st Special Operations Group, Field Grade Officer of the Year
2013 Colonel Joe Jackson Award, Mobility Air Forces Tactician of the Year
2014 General Kenney Award for best Lessons Learned practices
PUBLICATIONS
“Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE,” Air Commando Journal, Air Commando Association, Fla., 2021
“Operation DAMAYAN,” Air Commando Journal, Air Commando Association, Fla., 2021
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant: September 27, 2002
First Lieutenant: September 27, 2004
Captain: September 27, 2006
Major: October 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel: July 1, 2017
Colonel: May 1, 2023
(Current as of February 2025)