Dwight CoxFounding Member | Principal
Dwight is the Founding Member of Air Refueling Tanker Transport LLC, the nation’s first domestic Aerial Refueling and logistics-focused firm formed to meet public-private AR demands globally.
The Department of Defense has an urgent need for a private Aerial Refueling outlet capable of augmenting existing military tanker fleets, and this need has persisted for more than 50 years. Because of this, our co-founders, operational leaders and business partners average 28+ years of experience in the commercial air transportation and military Aerial Refueling sectors in order to address this problem. We are committed to becoming the world’s leader in AR by delivering the right commercial solution to NATO, DoD and commercial users globally through our revolutionary concepts, lean principles, and smart AR operations.
Dwight is the Founding Member of Air Refueling Tanker Transport LLC, the nation’s first domestic Aerial Refueling and logistics-focused firm formed to meet public-private AR demands globally.
Dwight has 30+ years of service to the nation. He entered active duty at the height of the Gulf War in Iraq as an aircraft Crew Chief Mechanic aboard the C-5 Galaxy and the C-141 Starlifter. He was promptly selected as a Dedicated Crew Chief responsible for traveling with and maintaining the DoD’s largest airlift aircraft globally. He received his first Air Medal for combat operations after contributing to Air Mobility Command’s longest flight of 23.5 hours, performing four Mid-Air Refueling missions to deliver approx. 70+ Delta Force members and an M-1 Abrams battle tank onto the shores of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, in support of a mission commonly depicted in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down.
A few years later, Dwight was 1 of 4 aviation experts out of 660 applicants selected to Air Mobility Command’s KC-10 Basic Flight Engineer test program – a curriculum that failed twice prior due to high student washout and failure rates.
Upon graduation from the program, Dwight returned to Travis AFB and got married, currently celebrating 24+ years of marriage and raising three children despite multiple deployments averaging 280-300 days away from home.
Dwight was the first in his family to graduate from college, graduating from SIU Carbondale’s College of Engineering. He has accumulated nearly 30 years as a civil servant retired Air Force veteran, aviation and aerospace expert, and combat aviator. He was deployed 13 times and received 10 Air/Aerial Achievement Medals for combat/contingency missions flown throughout the Middle East.
After moving to Scott AFB IL, Dwight was assigned to the 618 Tanker Airlift Control Center, Current Operations Directorate, Aerial Refueling Branch where he held the following positions:
Director, New AR Requirements responsible for validating all AR request submitted via the Air Refueling Management System (ARMS) in accordance with DoDI, Chairman, Joint Chiefs Staff Instruction (CJCSI) Air Force Instructions (AFI), AMCI and MOU/MOA’s with regards to Guards and Reserve commands title 10 and 32 of the United States Code.
Manager, Homeland Defense (Air Refueling) Tankers responsible for providing Air-to-Air Refueling support to Unified Combatant Commands, NORTHCOM, Airborne Early Warning & Control system and Air Combat Command fighters providing Combat Air Patrol (CAP) protecting of the POTUS, National Security and Defense of the homeland.
Lead Dual-Role and Coronet Detail Planner; Dual Role is AR with passenger and freight added traditionally flows within the CONUS. Coronets missions are Dual Role mission with extended over water segments. Dwight scheduled, fuel planned and executed complex Dual-Role and Coronets movements delivering Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) fighters, freight and warfighters to the CENTCOM’s Area of Responsibility in support of high priority National Defense Strategies.
Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) Planner/Analysis responsible to the Global Operations directorate as supporting 2 deployed units, 4 Aeromedical Evacuation Operation Teams (AEOT), 933 personnel and $29M in AE Support and Sustainment equipment. Chief Analytics/Statistician Manager responsible for systematically capturing, tracking and employing enterprise AE data supporting sorties flown, patients moved, Critical Care capability and specialty teams utilized ISO US Transportation Command/Surgeon General and TRANSCOM Patient Movement Requirements Center – America patient tasking’s.
Certified Flight Planning Specialist: Created and delivered Advanced Computerized Flight Plans based on Route Sets, Air Refueling alternates, operationally optimized for Single/Multi-Day, Dual-Role, and Coronet mission in support of tactical fighters, strategic bombers, mobility airlift and Aeromedical Evacuation missions.
DoD’s Validating Authority AR Tankers: Stood up US Transportation Commands (USTRANSCOM/J3-SR) Operations-Support Refueling Division as the validating, allocating and apportionment authority to utilize the DoD’s global tanker effectively and efficiently assets IAW Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 4120.02B, AFI 11-221 and other DoD guidance to meet Combatant Commander(s) requirements. Co-authored the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Tactical Publication ATP-56B, now ATP 3.3.4.2 for Air Refueling procedures.
Continuous Process Improvement (CPI)/ Wing Process Manager (WPM) Appointed by the 618 Air Operations Center Commander, leading the Office of Primary Responsibility to manage the center’s Continuous Process Improvement and Lean Six Sigma program/projects IAW DOD and Air Force Instruction leveraging Implementing CPI and Lean Six Sigma Tools for improving the operating effectiveness and efficiency.
Education
Certifications/Licenses
Professional Courses
Chuck is a retired KC-135 Instructor Pilot with over 24 years of aviation experience and 3,000 flight hours. During the course of his aviation career, he has flown the T-37, T-1, KC-135, C-37 (GV), and the CRJ 200/700/900. His administrative experience includes International Affairs at the Pentagon, planning and operations at the 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker/Airlift Control Center), and portfolio management at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
He began his Air Force career as a Mandarin-Chinese crypto-linguist, completing the 63-week course of language instruction at the Defense Language Institute with near-native fluency. After graduation, he was selected to attend Officer Training School and Undergraduate Pilot Training.
Chuck’s first operational assignment was to Grand Forks AFB, ND where he flew in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. He deployed multiple times and received five Air Medals and one Aerial Achievement Medal for combat and combat support missions. After his wartime service, Chuck moved to Hickam AFB, HI to fly Special Airlift Missions in the C-37 (GV). In addition to the Distinguished Visitor mission, he served as Chief of Flight Safety for the base.
Chuck began his staff tours at the Pentagon, where he was the lead Strategist and author of the 2011 Global Partnership Strategy for Air Force International Affairs (SAF/IA). He also deployed to Iraq during this time, earning The Bronze Star for his service as Chief of Operations for the Force Strategic Engagement Cell in Baghdad. After D.C., Chuck was assigned to the 618th Air Operations Center at Scott AFB, IL. He gained experience in airlift planning, tanker operations, and managed the programs for Continuous Process Improvement and the Inspector General. His last Active Duty assignment was to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, managing geospatial requirement portfolios for Department of Defense customers.
Here are some of the highlights of Chuck’s professional career:
Program Director for Continuous Process Improvement, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, IL
Deputy Inspector General, 618th Air Operations Center, Scott AFB, IL
Program Director for Strategy and Plans, Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Pentagon
EDUCATION
M.A., Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle (with distinction)
B.A., Economics, College of William and Mary
A.A., Mandarin Chinese, Monterey Peninsula College (with honors)
CERTIFICATIONS
Mike is a Fixed Wing Flight Engineer with over 32 years of Aviation Operations experience and 4,750 flight hours. He accumulated his flight hours in both the Lockheed C-141 and the McDonnel Douglas KC-10 (DC10). He was hand-selected by the Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs Division, to draft the first U.S. annex to NATO’s (ATP 3.3.4.2) Air Refueling Operations Manual.
Mike has a consistent track record for establishing new division infrastructure at the Department of Defense level concerning air operations. General Duncan McNabb hand selected Mike as program manager to develop U.S. Transportation Commands first ever Global Air Refueling Division. Mike was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his leadership of this program. He is a proven leader with well-honed skills in crisis and deliberate planning of air operations. His ability to enhance aircraft efficiency and increase crew productivity for Air Refueling Operations is down to a science. He has proven his ability to lead while at U.S. Transportation Command where he was responsible for managing the use of the United States Air Force tanker fleet operations consisting of 397 KC-135’s and 59 KC-10 aircraft supporting worldwide air refueling for the Department of Defense. Mike has been awarded three Air Medals for his combat AR missions in direct support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Air Refueling Division, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL
EDUCATION
B.A., Business Management, American Military University
A.A.S., Aviation Operations, Community College of the USAF.
A.A.S., Maintenance Management, Community College of the USAF.
CERTIFICATIONS
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