Col. Taylor A. Blevins is commander of the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina. He is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the largest operational F-16 wing in the Air National Guard while maintaining a 2,400-acre federal military installation and providing 24/7 Air Sovereignty for the Southeast United States. He is responsible for the care, morale, and welfare of 1,500 Airmen and civilian personnel, including almost 100 active-duty Airmen assigned in an Active Association construct. McEntire JNGB is the host to five South Carolina Army National Guard tenant units and more than 2,500 Soldiers, including South Carolina’s largest Army National Guard flying operation.
Col. Blevins received his commission as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Prior to joining the Air National Guard, he served 12 years on Active Duty as a weapons officer, instructor pilot, and flight commander in Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. He is a command pilot and highly experienced F-16 instructor pilot, flight examiner, and mission commander with more than 2,300 flying hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Col. Blevins has flown more than 325 hours in combat and has flown combat missions in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Spartan Shield. He previously served in various staff and supervisory capacities at the squadron and wing levels within the 169th Fighter Wing. Prior to his current position, the colonel served as commander of the 169th Operations Group, McEntire JNGB, South Carolina.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science, United States Air Force Academy
2008 U.S. Air Force Flight Safety School, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2013 Masters of Psychology, American Military University
2020 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2024 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2005 – March 2006, Introductory Flight Training, 557th Flying Training Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. March 2006 – April 2007, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
3. April 2007 – September 2007, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. September 2007 – July 2008, F-16C Student, 182nd Fighter Squadron, Lackland-Kelly AFB, Texas
5. July 2008 – March 2011, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Assistant Weapons Officer, 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
6. March 2011 – July 2012, Flight Commander, 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea
7. July 2012 – December 2012, Student, USAF Weapons School, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. December 2012 – June 2013, Squadron Weapons Officer, 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea
9. June 2013 – August 2015, Squadron Weapons Officer, 480th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
10. August 2015 – February 2017, F-16 Weapons School Instructor, Flight Commander, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. February 2017 – July 2019, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 157th Fighter Squadron, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.
12. July 2019 – June 2020, Squadron Weapons Officer, 157th Fighter Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
13. June 2020 – June 2022, Wing Weapons Officer, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
14. June 2022 – February 2024, Program Manager, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
15. February 2024 – August 2024, Commander, 157th Fighter Squadron, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
16. August 2024 – May 2026, Commander, 169th Operations Group, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
17. May 2026 – Present, Commander, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire JNGB, S.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,500
Aircraft flown: F-16, T-38, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2011 Instructor Pilot of the Year, 80th Fighter Squadron
2012 Distinguished Graduate, USAF Weapons School
2015 USAFE Fighter Pilot of the Year
2019 Instructor Pilot of the Year, 157th Fighter Squadron
2021 ‘Guns’ Garin Combat Leadership Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Lifetime member, National Guard Association of the United States
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 1, 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major August 1, 2015
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2021
Colonel Aug. 18, 2025
(Current as of May 2026)