Colonel Carla Gleason is the Director of Public Affairs at Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command. She serves as the strategic communication advisor to the commander, Air Force Reserve Command, providing communication synchronization and planning for headquarters initiatives and across the total force public affairs enterprise. She develops and provides public affairs policy and guidance to three numbered Air Forces, 47 wings and multiple operating locations worldwide. Gleason also serves as the career field manager for all unit and individual mobilization augmentees in the Reserve public affairs career field.
Colonel Gleason entered the United States Air Force in November of 2002 upon receiving her commission from Officer Training School. A career public affairs officer, she has served in multiple locations throughout the Air Force and deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Operation Noble Eagle. Prior to arriving at HQ AFRC, Gleason was an AGR serving as the Deputy of Congressional Affairs at U.S. Southern Command, and, previous to that, as a Pentagon spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelors of Communication and Journalism, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
2002 Masters of Business and Administration degree in Marketing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
2003 Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Squadron Office School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (correspondence)
2016 Master of Military Arts in Strategic Studies, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS
1.Nov. 2002 – May 2005, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs, Buckley Air Force Base, Co.
2.May 2005 – May 2006, Chief of Internal information then Deputy Chief of Public Affairs, 48th Fighter Wing, Lakenheath, UK
3.May 2006- March 2009, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs, 433rd Air Base Wing, San Antonio, Texas
4.April 2009 – Dec. 2009, Chief of Public Affairs, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Qatar
5.July 2010 – Dec. 2010, Chief of Public Affairs, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
6.Jan. 2011 – Jan. 2013, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
7.Jan. 2013 – March 2014, IMA to Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
8.March 2014 – Sept. 2017, Chief, Public Affairs, 477th Fighter Group, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska
9.Sept. 2017 – Sept. 2020, Pentagon Spokesperson, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs, Pentagon, Va.
10.Sept. 2020- June 2023, Deputy Director, Congressional Affairs, U.S. Southern Command, Fla.
11.June 2023- May 2024, Director, Public Affairs, Joint Task Force Civil Support, Ft. Eustis, Va.
12.May 2024- Present, Director of Public Affairs, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1.June 2008- Sept. 2009, Chief, Media Relations, Joint Task Force Civil Support, Fort Monroe, Va., as a captain
2.Sept. 2017- Sept. 2020, Pentagon Spokesperson, Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs, Washington D.C., as a major
3.Sept. 2020- June 2023, Deputy Director, Congressional Affairs, U.S. Southern Command, Fla. as a lieutenant colonel
4.June 2023- May 2024, Director, Public Affairs, Joint Task Force Civil Support, Ft Eustis, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Overseas Service Ribbon Short
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one hourglass device
Air and Space Training Ribbon
(Current as of July 2024)