Colonel Gerard J. Carisio is the Commander, 18th Maintenance Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan. He leads 2,400 Airmen in the Combat Air Force’s largest maintenance group, directly supporting all 18th Wing missions crucial to USINDOPACOM objectives. The group provides continuous maintenance and munitions operations while ensuring combat readiness for E-3, F-15, HH-60, and KC-135 aircraft, plus three rotating Fighter Dynamic Force Elements. They maintain the only combined air refueling, combat rescue, air battle management, and air superiority assets in the Asian and Western Pacific theater, while also managing PACAF's largest munitions stockpile, valued at over $787 million.
Colonel Carisio received his commission in 2003 upon graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. Colonel Carisio is an aircraft maintenance officer with experience on C-5A/B, C-17A, E-3A/B/G, F-15C/D, HH-60G, and KC-135R/T aircraft. He has held positions in AFCENT, AMC, NATO, PACAF, and USAFE. Colonel Carisio also served as an Air Force Academy instructor and as an Air Advisor to the Afghan Air Force. Prior to his current position, the Colonel served as the Branch Chief, Maintenance Program and Sustainment, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control (NAEW&C) Headquarters, Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, English, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO
2004 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2010 Master of Arts, English, University of Virginia, VA
2013 Air Command and Staff College, by Correspondence
2022 Air War College, by Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2003 – October 2003, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, DE
2. October 2003 – February 2004, Student, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX
3. February 2004 – September 2006, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge, Accessories Flight Officer in Charge, and Quality Assurance Officer in Charge, 436th Maintenance Group, Dover Air Force Base, DE
4. September 2006 – September 2008, Officer in Charge, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
5. September 2008 – August 2009, Executive Officer, 18th Maintenance Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan
6. August 2009 – December 2010, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian Institutions Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
7. December 2010 – July 2013, Instructor and Director of Resources, Department of English and Fine Arts, United States Air Force Academy, CO
8. July 2013 – May 2015, Maintenance Operations Officer, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, SC
9. May 2015 – August 2017, Commander, 100th Maintenance Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England
10. September 2017 – September 2018, Commander, 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan
11. October 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, WA
12. August 2020 – July 2023, Deputy Commander, 18th Maintenance Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan
13. July 2023 – July 2025, Branch Chief, Maintenance Program and Sustainment, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force Headquarters, Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany
14. July 2025 – present, Commander, 18th Maintenance Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2023 – July 2025, Branch Chief, Maintenance Program and Sustainment, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force Headquarters, Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 28 May 2003
First Lieutenant 28 May 2005
Captain 28 May 2007
Major 1 September 2013
Lieutenant Colonel 1 April 2018
Colonel 1 January 2025
(Current as of July 2025)