Col Benjamin Ward is the Deputy Commander, 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California. The wing is composed of four groups and nine squadrons and provides global reach airpower and deploys expeditionary forces in support of worldwide combat, contingency, and humanitarian requirements. The 940 ARW supports Air Mobility Command’s worldwide air refueling mission, meeting the air refueling needs of all U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine and selected allied nations’ aircraft. In addition, they supplement AMC’s strategic airlift capability. Furthermore, members of the 940 ARW are engaged in a cross section of combat support services for all U.S. military branches in times of peace, war, and national emergency within the United States and abroad.
Col Ward graduated from Baylor University where he was commissioned through the ROTC program in 1998. Col Ward began his career serving seven years on active duty as a KC-135 pilot. He is a command pilot with over 4,500 flying hours in the KC-135R/T, T-37B, and T-1A and has deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and INHERENT RESOLVE.
Col Ward joined the United States Air Force Reserve in 2005 as a KC-135 instructor pilot in the 939th Air Refueling Wing at Portland ANGB, OR, and the 927th Air Refueling Wing at Selfridge ANGB, MI and MacDill AFB, FL. During that time, he served as Chief of Plans, Chief of Training, Chief of Standards and Evaluations, and Commander of the 927th Operations Support Squadron. Prior to his current position, Col Ward was an individual mobilization augmentee to the Director of Future and Sensitive Operations and Plans Division at headquarters Air Mobility Command.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
2000 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Business Administration, University of South Florida, Tampa
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2025 Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Penn, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1998 – September 1999, F-16 Scheduler, 18th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
2. September 1999 – September 2000, Student Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. April 2001 – February 2005, KC-135 Aircraft Commander, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
4. February 2005 – July 2006, KC-135 Instructor Pilot and Chief of Current Operations, 939th Operations Support Squadron, Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore.
5. July 2006 – November 2007, KC-135 Instructor Pilot and Chief of Operations Plans, 927th Operations Support Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
6. November 2007 – April 2018, KC-135 Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations, Chief of Training, Director of Operations, and Flight Commander, 63d Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
7. April 2018 – June 2021, Commander, 927th Operations Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
8. June 2021 – February 2022, Deputy Commander, 927th Operations Group, MacDill AFB, Fla.
9. February 2022 – July 2023, IMA to Chief, Nuclear Operations and Plans, Scott AFB, Ill.
10. July 2023 – September 2025, IMA to A3/5 Director, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
11.September 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot F
light hours: more than 4,500
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device and oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of September 2025)