Colonel SHANE P. MUSCATO

Colonel Shane P. Muscato is the Commander of the 479th Flying Training Group at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla. The Group includes four squadrons, 325 personnel and 45 T-6 Texan II and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft and trains over 300 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. Prior to joining the 479 FTG, Colonel Muscato was the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff. In this role, he coordinated activities and actions across 13 Joint Staff Directorates and over 3,500 Joint Service and Civilian Personnel. He reviewed and determined the disposition of incoming correspondence to the Director to ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and timelines prior to coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense. Furthermore, he facilitated coordination between the Director, multiple inter-agency offices, Combatant Commands, and Service headquarters. Colonel Muscato was commissioned via the United States Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He 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. Colonel Muscato has commanded at the squadron level, expeditionary squadron level, and as the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component-Afghanistan Deputy Commander. Lt Col Muscato earned his wings at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas in 2003 and is married to the former Jennifer Phillips of Amherst, NH. They have two children, a daughter Abigail and son Casey.