Col Scott Giller is the Deputy Commander of the 353d Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. The wing employs 1,020 special operations personnel across seven squadrons at Kadena and Yokota Air Bases, supporting special operations throughout U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's area of responsibility by providing combat-ready Special Tactics Teams, MC-130J Commando II, and CV-22B Osprey aircraft.
Prior to this assignment, Col Giller served in the SOCOM Liaison Network (SLN) that facilitates communication, alignment, synchronization, coordination and collaboration between key DOD, interagency, academic and industry partners to enable the execution of USSOCOM responsibilities.
Col Giller earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2000. He has participated in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve and has commanded at the squadron level. He has held various operational and staff assignments and is a master navigator with over 3,200 hours in the MC-130H and C-130E.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Administration of Justice, Pennsylvania State University
2006 Squadron Officer’s School
2008 Master of Arts, International Affairs, University of Oklahoma
2010 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence program)
2011 Master of Arts, National Security Studies, Naval Postgraduate School
2011 Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Spanish
2016 Air War College (correspondence program)
2020 Master of Arts, Strategic Security Studies, National Defense University
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2000 – April 2001, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
2. July 2001 – November 2001, Student, C-130E Initial Qualification and Mission Training, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
3. November 2001 – May 2005, C-130E, Instructor and Evaluator Navigator, 2nd Airlift Squadron, Pope AFB, North Carolina
4. May 2005 – November 2005, Student, MC-130H Mission Qualification Training, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
5. November 2005 – November 2007, MC-130H Instructor and Evaluator Navigator, Assistant Flight Commander, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
6. November 2007 – September 2009, Group Evaluator and MC-130H Branch Chief, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida
7. September 2009 – September 2010, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
8. September 2010 – January 2012, Student, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, California
9.January 2012 – June 2013, Western Hemisphere Country Director and Branch Chief, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Pentagon, Virginia
10. June 2013 – July 2014, Executive Officer to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Pentagon, Virginia
11. July 2014 – October 2014, Student, MC-130H Requalification Training, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
12. October 2014 – July 2015, Chief Navigator, 15th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida
13. July 2015 – June 2016, Chief of Safety, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
14. June 2016 – Jan 2017, Inspector General, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
15. Jan 2017– May 2017, Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida
16. June 2017 – January 2019, Commander, 352d Special Operations Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
17. January 2019 – July 2019, Deputy Commander, 752d Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
18. July 2019 – June 2020, Student, College of International Security Affairs (CISA), National Defense University, Ft McNair, Washington D.C.
19. June 2020 – July 2022, SOCOM Liaison Network, USSOCOM, Washington, D.C.
22. July 2022 - Present, Vice Commander, 353d Special Operations Wing, Kadena AB, Japan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 3,200 (750+ combat hours)
Aircraft Flown: MC-130H, C-130E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 devices
Air Medal with 7 devices
Aerial Achievement Medal with 4 devices
Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 device
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 31 May 2000
First Lieutenant 31 May 2002
Captain 31 May 2004
Major 1 Jan 2010
Lieutenant Colonel 1 May 2015
Colonel 1 May 2021