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COLONEL STEVEN J. BUTOW
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Col. Steven J. Butow is the Commander of the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. As the wing commander, he is responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready forces for deployment and employment. The 129th Rescue Wing operates four MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, five HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and the Guardian Angel pararescue weapon system supporting the U.S. Air Force's personnel recovery mission. The 129th Rescue Wing is manned by more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel in 18 subordinate groups, squadrons, and flights. The wing also provides resources and support to an additional 200 personnel at two geographically separated locations.
A California native, Colonel Butow enlisted in the California Air National Guard and joined the 129th Rescue Wing in 1986 where he was assigned to the 129th Pararescue Team as an administrative specialist. He received his commission in 1989 as a distinguished graduate of the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn. and completed undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, in 1990.
Throughout the 1990s Colonel Butow participated in multiple deployments in support of Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Provide Comfort and Northern Watch. As the deployed Director of Operations for the 129th Rescue Squadron, he prepared the unit for its first combat employment at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In 2005, Colonel Butow served as deputy director of the U.S. Central Command's Joint Search and Rescue Center where he coordinated more than 500 life saving missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. He led the air component response to Operation Earned Respect, one of the largest combat search and rescue operations since the Vietnam War. Colonel Butow became the 129th Deputy Operations Group Commander in 2008 where he contributed to more than 300 combat and peacetime saves including the 2008 response to California wild fires and Hurricane Ike. Additionally, he currently serves as lead facilitator of the Joint Interoperability Issues Resolution Team for Personnel Recovery organized by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Arts degree in physics, San Jose State University, Calif.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2010 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1986 - March 1989, administrative specialist, 129th Pararescue Team, Moffett FAF, Calif.
2. April 1989 - April 1990, student, undergraduate pilot training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. January 1990 - April 2000, pilot and instructor, 129th Rescue Squadron, Moffett FAF, Calif.
4. May 2000 - October 2004, chief of weapons and tactics, 129th Operations Support Flight, Moffett FAF, Calif.
5. November 2004 - February 2008, Commander, 129th Operations Support Flight, Moffett FAF, Calif.
6. March 2008 - September 2010, Deputy Commander, 129th Operations Group, Moffett FAF, Calif.
7. September 2010 - July 2011, Vice Commander, 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett FAF, Calif.
8. July 2011 - present, Commander, 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett FAF, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,400 hours

Aircraft flown: MC-130P, HC-130P/N, C-130E, T-37 and T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor device
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 6, 1989
First Lieutenant May 15, 1991
Captain May 15, 1993
Major May 15, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel January 5, 2006
Colonel March 22, 2011
(Current as of July 2011)
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