Colonel Summer A. Fields is the deputy commander of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana. She supports and directs the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The 434th ARW is manned by nearly 1,900 military, civilian and contractor personnel and equipped with two flying squadrons operating 16 aircraft. The 434th ARW also has a unique role supporting both the Single Integrated Operational Plan and conventional tanker missions.
Colonel Fields graduated college from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in December 1994. In 1997, she entered the United States Air Force Reserve and received her commission from Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Ala. She graduated from pilot training in 1998 and went to fly KC-135s assigned to the 314th Air Refueling Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif. Due to the closure of the 314th Air Refueling Squadron in 2008, Fields continued her career at Beale as an RQ-4 Global Hawk instructor pilot in the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron. She went on to eventually command the 13 RS. She then went on to become the Deputy Commander, 726th Operations Group, Creech AFB, Nevada. Following her time at Beale, Colonel Fields moved to 10th Air Force where she served in many staff roles to include executive officer to the Numbered Air Force commander, director of the commander’s action group and director of staff. Prior to her current assignment, she was the deputy wing commander at Grissom ARB, Indiana.
Fields has deployed numerous times to support Operations ALLIED FORCE, JOINT FORGE, NORTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. She helped protect homeland security while flying in Operation NOBLE EAGLE. She has also supported Operations TOMODACHI and ODYESSY DAWN from her deployed-in-garrison role at Beale AFB, Calif. She has over 3,500 flight hours including more than 100 combat hours and 475 combat support hours.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
2004 Advanced Instrument School, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Master of Arts, Military Studies, Joint Warfare, American Military University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1997 – May 1997, Officer Trainee, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. August 1997 – August 1998, Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. August 1998 – December 1998, KC-135 Student Pilot, KC-135 Initial Qualification Training, Altus AFB, Okla.
4. January 1999 – November 2008, KC-135R/T Instructor Pilot, 314th Air Refueling Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
5. November 2008 – September 2013, RQ-4B Instructor Pilot, 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
6. Sept 2013 – August 2018, Director of Operations, 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
7. August 2018 – August 2020, Commander, 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
8. August 2020 – December 2020, Deputy Commander, 726th Operations Group, Creech AFB, Nevada.
9. December 2020 – January 2023, Staff Officer, 10 AF, NAS JRB Ft Worth, Texas.
10. January 2023 – June 2023, Deputy Commander, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom ARB, Indiana
11. June 2023 – Present, Commander, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom ARB, Indiana
Flight Information
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, KC-135E/R/T, RQ-4A/B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal with bronze star
Air & Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with five ‘M’ devices
NATO (Non-Article 5) Medal
(CURRENT AS OF FEBRUARY 2024)